Southeast Asia

SEA Games 2019 Best XI

By: , December 17, 2019 4:33 pm
Credit – Getty Images

Check out Football Tribe’s Best XI from the 2019 SEA Games:

Goalkeeper

Name: Solasak Thilavong

Age: 16

Nationality: Laos

Club: -

At first glance, it's clear to see Thilavong is a good goalkeeper; quick reflexes, good build, brave in coming off his line, etc. But it's when you learn that he's only 16 years old that he becomes phenomenal. He helped Laos to 2 clean sheets against Singapore and Brunei, as well as keeping Thailand at bay until the 90th minute. Remember his name - you'll be seeing him between the sticks in the SEA Games for many years to come.

Defender

Name: Nguyen Thanh Chung

Age: 22

Nationality: Vietnam

Club: Hanoi FC

Solid at defense and good in the air, he scored a goal from the header in the match against Indonesia in the group stage to give Vietnam a vital victory.

Defender

Name: Amani Aguinaldo

Age: 24

Nationality: Philippines

Club: PKNP FC

Already an established player for the senior Azkals side, Aguinaldo provided a major boost for the hosts in defense by joining up with the SEA Games squad. He also managed to score three goals at the tournament, all coming as a hattrick in the side's 6-1 demolition of Timor Leste.

Defender

Name: Doan Van Hau

Age: 20

Nationality: Vietnam

Club: Hanoi FC

A solid and calming presence in the Vietnamese defense as they won their first SEA Games gold medal in men's football since reunification. Stood out for both the wrong and right reasons in the final.

Central Midfielder

Name: Evan Dimas

Age: 24

Nationality: Indonesia

Club: Barito Putera

Despite his struggles with Barito Putera this season, Evan has proved himself to be a capable and vital presence in the Indonesian midfield. It was him leaving the pitch early due to injury that led to Indonesia's collapse in the final.

Central Midfielder

Name: Do Hung Dung

Age: 26

Nationality: Vietnam

Club: Hanoi FC

Over-age Do Hung Dung heart of the team with good vision and passing skills. He contributed a lot to the play style of the team in this SEA Games.

Right Midfielder

Name: Stephan Schrock

Age: 33

Nationality: Philippines

Club: Ceres-Negros

He contributed a lot to his team on home soil with his passing, crossing, and dribbling ability. He has done everything for the Philippines squad. If the hosts had another player like Schrock, they would have qualified for the semi-final.

Left Midfielder

Name: Aung Kaung Mann

Age: 21

Nationality: Myanmar

Club: Ayeyawady United FC

The 21 years old from Ayeyawady United is comfortable as a striker or drifting inside from the flank. He netted five goals to become his team's top scorer, helping Myanmar to the bronze medal. His equalizing header in the bronze medal playoff against Cambodia showcased his lethal instinct inside the box.

Forward

Name: Osvaldo Haay

Age: 22

Nationality: Indonesia

Club: Persebaya Surabaya

Osvaldo Haay was by far the deadliest player in the Indonesian attack. He scored eight goals to become joint top-scorer of the SEA Games, which included a hat-trick against Brunei.

Forward

Name: Ha Duc Chinh

Age: 22

Nationality: Vietnam

Club: Danang

Despite showing poor form before SEA Games, Duc Chinh managed to overcome the doubters and become the joint top striker at the tournament with eight goals.

Forward

Name: Sieng Chanthea

Age: 17

Nationality: Cambodia

Club: Bati Youth

The newest in Southeast Asia's line of breakout young stars with huge potential, Sieng has grown quite remarkably as a footballer. At his young age, he has already clocked minutes for the Cambodia senior national team, scoring a goal against Pakistan in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, and he had also became the main man for his country in the 2019 SEA Games, leading Cambodia to the semifinals with three goals and a string of impressive displays to his name.