Indonesia’s PSM Makassar secured a spot in the 2024/25 ASEAN Club Championship semifinal with a convincing 3-0 victory over Vietnam’s Dong A Thanh Hoa on Wednesday. The win at Kapten I Wayan Dipta Stadium in Gianyar not only earned PSM second place in Group A but also eliminated Thanh Hoa from the tournament.
The Indonesian hosts took control with goals on either side of halftime. Daisuke Sakai opened the scoring in first-half stoppage time, and Nermin Haljeta extended the lead just a minute into the second half. Haljeta later sealed the win with his second goal of the night, leaving PSM as runners-up behind Thailand’s BG Pathum United, while Thanh Hoa dropped to fifth in the standings.
Both teams began the match outside the qualification spots, but with top two sides BGPU and Malaysia’s Terengganu FC playing against each other in the simultaneous kick-off, the winner in Gianyar was guaranteed a top-two finish.
The opening 20 minutes saw a cautious start, with Thanh Hoa controlling possession but failing to create clear chances. PSM, however, grew into the game and had their first major opportunity in the 33rd minute. A defensive mix-up between Thanh Hoa goalkeeper Trin Xuan Hoang and left-back Dinh Viet Tu allowed Victor Dethan to intercept. He delivered a precise cutback to an unmarked Sakai, who missed a golden opportunity by side-footing wide from 12 yards.
Thanh Hoa responded five minutes before halftime when Yago Ramos charged through the middle and set up A Mit for a first-time cross that Nguyen Ngoc My volleyed over the bar. Moments later, Nguyen Thai Son had a clear chance after beating the offside trap, but his shot missed the target with only PSM goalkeeper Reza Arya Pratama to beat.
The breakthrough came in first-half injury time when another defensive error by Xuan Hoang gifted PSM the lead. Syahrul Lasinari dispossessed the goalkeeper on the edge of the area and passed to Sakai, who calmly rounded the scrambling Xuan Hoang and slotted the ball into an empty net.
PSM doubled their advantage immediately after the restart with a beautifully executed move. Ananda Raehan found Victor Luiz on the left wing, whose low cross was turned in by Haljeta from six yards, marking his third goal of the tournament.
Xuan Hoang kept Thanh Hoa’s slim hopes alive with a fine save to deny Dethan just before the hour mark, following a solo run from the PSM winger. Thanh Hoa appeared to pull one back when Ngoc My found the net, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
Haljeta put the result beyond doubt with 15 minutes remaining. Starting deep in his own half, the Slovenian forward played a clever chip to substitute Rizky Eka Pratama on the left. Advancing into the penalty area, Haljeta received a return pass and fired into the net after a deft first touch.
Despite a late red card for coach Bernardo Tavares following a heated exchange with the referee, PSM comfortably managed the closing minutes. The victory set up a two-legged semi-final clash against Group B winners Cong An Ha Noi in April.