Safawi Rasid, a worthy opponent of Trong Hoang?

This 22-year-old player scored a goal from a free kick against Van Lam in the first leg of the 2018 AFF Cup final. On Fox Sports Asia, along with Vietnam's Quang Hai, Safawi Rasid is considered one of the 5 most worth-watching stars at the 2018 AFF Cup.

Like Quang Hai, the Malaysian football star won the double title of "Best Young Player" and "Best Player" at the Malaysia Super League 2018.

The brightest star of the Malaysian national team

Currently, 3 young players Supachok Sarachat (Buriram United Club), Quang Hai (Hanoi FC) and Safawi Rasid(Johor Darul Ta'zim Club) is considered a young talent in the region. Interestingly, all 3 are good at playing left midfielder, although they can play well on both right wing and striker, and are all left-footed.

In 2011, the player born in 1997 joined the T-Team football academy, which specializes in training young talents under 18 years old. Although only 15 years old, the boy from Dungun has always been present in the official T-Team squad in every match. With good tactical vision and a dynamic playing style, Safawi is the favorite attacking player of every strategist when he can play flexibly on both wings.

Safawi Rasid is one of eight Malaysian players used by Mr. Tan for the entire 90 minutes of the two matches against Indonesia and UAE. Photo: AFF

But then in 2017, he shone with the U22 Malaysia team that won the men's football silver medal at the SEA Games on home soil. Safawi's goal in the 5th minute in the 2-1 win over Brunei was considered the best goal of the tournament.

2018 was considered a successful year for the young Malaysian star when he "made waves" in the continental playgrounds. At the U23 Asian finals, the JDT striker has now become the trump card of coach Ong Kim Swee. He scored 2 out of 4 goals to help the team reach the quarter-finals and only lost to Korea with a score of 1-2.

At the 2018 ASIAD, Safawi continued to be the top scorer of the Malaysian Olympic team with a double from the JDT star against Korea. In the match, Safawi even overshadowed the East Asian stars and the midfielder who returned from the Premier League, Son Heung-min.

After the success of the Malaysian team in the final against Vietnam at the AFF Cup 2018, Safawi Rasid was one of the 8 Malaysian players that Mr. Tan used for the entire 90 minutes of the 2 matches against Indonesia and UAE. This midfielder contributed a lot in the 3-2 win against the host Indonesia. Although he lost 1-2 to UAE, this young star showed how sharp his wing attack is.

Equal in weight

Certainly, in the match at My Dinh Stadium, Safawi Rasid will have the opportunity to confront Trong Hoang, the right winger of the Vietnam National Team. In addition to constantly causing difficulties for Duy Manh, Safawi Rasid attracted Trong Hoang so that midfielder Syamer Abba could sneak down and pass to center-back S.Saad to score with his head.

Like Quang Hai, Safawi Rasid's personal technique is quite perfect, especially his flexible left foot that punished goalkeeper Van Lam for being in the wrong position with a goal from a set-piece situation on the right wing at Bukit Jalill Stadium.

Trong Hoang. Photo: Trung Kien

In the second leg of the 2018 AFF Cup final, teammate Que Ngoc Hai had to come out many times to support Trong Hoang to cover the right wing. Mr. Tan also switched positions between Safawi Rasid and Sumareh many times.

Surely Vietnamese fans will see the midfielder with the most seniority in the national team face off against the brightest star of Malaysia in his 16th appearance for the national team. The audience at My Dinh Stadium hopes to see the midfielder from Nghe An, with his class and experience, lock down the most important explosive point of the away team.