This weekend has become yet another one to remember for South-East Asian football, as Thai midfielder Chanathip Songkrasin and Filipino goalkeeper Neil Etheridge both made major impacts in top foreign leagues over the past couple of days.
Etheridge, who is currently the first-choice goalkeeper for newly promoted Premier League outfit Cardiff City, made yet another impressive penalty save to earn his side a point at home against Newcastle United on Saturday. The Philippines international denied Brazilian forward Kenedy in the dying minutes of stoppage time, allowing his side to cling on for their first point of the Premier League season.
The goalkeeper is currently playing his first Premier League campaign, and his immediate impact has made him something of a trailblazer for South-East Asian football, being the only player from the region currently starting for a Premier League team.
However, Etheridge was not the only player to make a splash abroad over the weekend, with Thailand star Chanathip Songkrasin once again sending his home nation into a frenzy with a brilliant goal for Japanese outfit Consadole Sapporo.
After scoring an excellent half-volley last weekend against Cerezo Osaka, the diminutive attacking midfielder added to his collection of phenomenal strikes with a screamer in a 3-2 home win over FC Tokyo.
The Thai attacker has now scored 6 goals from 19 J-League appearances this season, and his performances have earned him a permanent transfer to the Hokkaido Islanders ahead of next season.