Gladbach defender Diks captains Indonesia to ASEAN Cup glory as Elversberg's Mickelson sees red for Thailand
· Yahoo Sports
Indonesia lifted the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup after a penalty shootout win over Thailand on home soil. In a very competitive final, both teams took turns to take the lead after the 84th minute mark.
Three minutes before the first goal of the game by Dean Ruben James, Nicholas Mickelson was sent off for two bookings as the visitors were reduced to ten. The Norwegian-born Elversberg left-back played two Bundesliga games for the newly-promoted side.
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Thailand forced extra-time with Iklas Sanron’s strike, and they even took the lead with a goal from another home-based player Peeradol Chamrasamee. Millwall’s Elkan William Tio Baggott, who was born in Thailand, scored the equalizer for the hosts as nothing separated the sides after 120 minutes.
Diks, who has been a regular penalty-kick taker at Borussia Mönchengladbach, didn’t need to take one as Thailand missed two of their kicks before Indonesia’s fifth attempt.
Former Bayer Leverkusen striker Dimitar Berbatov and Pedro, who has won 25 major trophies including the World Cup, Euros and three Champions Leagues, brought the cup to the pitch before the ceremonies led by FIFA’s president Gianni Infantino.
The plans for two new regional divisions for Southeast Asian teams were launched at the 47th ASEAN Summit by FIFA. As opposed to the ASEAN Championship, this tournament will fall during the FIFA calendar, which helps the national teams to use the likes of Diks and Mickelson with no issues. Hong Kong won the first ASEAN Challenge Cup (the second division).
Gladbach’s defender lifted the cup as Indonesia’s captain as he had a very different experience from the losing streak at club level. Both Diks and Mickelson will now return to their clubs as their clubs face away fixtures against Köln and Union Berlin, respectively.