Thu Dau Mot City: Experienced Becamex Binh Duong midfielder Le Tan Tai has pinpointed PSM Makassar’s Wiljan Pluim as the player the Vietnamese side must beware of as the teams prepare to meet in the 2019 AFC Cup ASEAN Zonal semi-final first leg on Wednesday.
Binh Duong advanced to the regional semi-finals after winning their final four Group G games to finish as the best-placed runners-up in ASEAN, while Makassar remained unbeaten to win Group H in what is their debut campaign.
Much of the Indonesian side’s success has been built around their Dutch captain Wiljan Pluim, as well as Finnish striker Eero Markannen and naturalised Netherlands-born midfielder Marc Klok, and Tan Tai is well aware of the threat they pose going forward.
“PSM Makassar are very strong in their domestic league and are a team that features some high-quality foreign players,” noted the former Vietnam international ahead of the first leg at Binh Duong Stadium.
“Attacking midfielder Wiljan Pluim is very creative, and I know more about him because he trained at Binh Duong for a short time.
“Overall I think Makassar are very good going forward but maybe not as strong in defence.”
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Posted by Binh Duong Football Club on Friday, 14 June 2019
Binh Duong drew their opening game of the competition against Indonesian opposition when they ended goalless away at Persija Jakarta in late February before defeat to the Philippines’ Ceres Negros gave them plenty to do to qualify for the knockout rounds.
The Vietnamese side responded in style, claiming back-to-back wins against Myanmar’s Shan United and then overcoming Persija 3-1 to leave everything riding on a Matchday Six visit to Ceres, who had already secured a place in the ASEAN Zonal semi-finals.
A fabulous late Wander Luiz goal completed a remarkable reversal of fortunes as Binh Duong joined domestic rivals Hanoi FC – who won Group F – in the knockout rounds.
⭐ Players: Wander Luiz, Forward #BecamexBinhDuong
ASEAN Zone Semi-finals | #AFCCup2019 pic.twitter.com/VU3cLiRTl8
— AFC Cup (@AFCCup) June 11, 2019
“We did everything we could to beat Ceres and make it to the final four [in ASEAN] and the result has given us confidence ahead of the semi-final,” admitted Tan Tai, who has been at the club since 2014.
“We got four points against Persija in the group stage and I think this can help with our preparation for the Makassar game.
“With two Vietnamese teams making it to the semi-finals it shows that Vietnamese football is heading in the right direction just now and the country is strong in Southeast Asia.”
Group G: Becamex Binh Duong v Persija Jakarta
Tan Tai has enjoyed considerable success during his time at Binh Duong, including two V.League titles and a pair of National Cups.
The midfielder also has a wealth of international experience, having been part of the Golden Stars’ 2007 AFC Asian Cup squad and the country’s AFF (ASEAN Football Federation) Championship-winning side a year later.
And while he has also played in the AFC Champions League with Binh Duong, the current campaign marks his first foray into the AFC Cup.
“I have played for Binh Duong for a long time and won many titles with the club and the national team,” added Tan Tai.
“But being in the AFC Cup is a new and interesting experience that I have not had so far. Reaching the semi-finals was the initial target of the team and now we will do our best in every game going forward.”
Source: the-afc.com