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Goal.com's Asian Player & Team Of The Month For September
Goal.com's newest feature highlights the monthly stars from Asia and September has been a big month with World Cup qualifiers, ACL quarter-finals plus plenty of domestic action
02-Oct-2011 7:50:00 AM
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Welcome to Goal.com's new regular feature: Goal.com Asian Player of the Month.
Each month our worldwide team of editors will put forward a selected candidate, as chosen by Goal.com International, who deserves recognition for their performers over the course of the month.
Goal.com will also select an Asian Team of the Month as we look to provide more recognition and insight on football throughout the Asian continent.
Club: Jeonbuk Motors
Age: 32
Role: Striker
It's been another big month for the ex-Middlesbrough man who has revived his career since moving back to Korea in 2008. The 2009 K-League MVP is a favourite to win the award again after a fine season with runaway leaders Jeonbuk Motors, while his exploits in Asia's Champions League (ACL) this month earn him special recognition.
Lee's crowning moment came in the second leg of Jeonbuk's quarter-final tie against Cerezo Osaka where he scored four goals in a 6-1 rout of the Japanese side to seal a 9-5 aggregate victory. The 32-year-old had already scored twice in the 4-3 first-leg defeat.
The veteran, who retired from the national team after the 2010 Fifa World Cup, also scored in the 3-1 league win at Gyeongnam FC on September 18 to edge closer to the all-time K-League goalscoring record.
Mojtaba Jabbari - Esteghlal & Iran
Ryuji Bando - Cerezo Osaka
The big-spending Guangdong-based outfit clinched the Chinese Super League (CSL) title on Wednesday with four games to spare and in their first season back in the top flight. Indeed, it's been a remarkable season for Lee Jang-Soo's Guangzhou.
Guangzhou, who have only been beaten once this CSL season, have been runaway leaders all campaign with their significant financial backing helping them become the team to beat in China.
Recent high-profile recruits Dario Conca (right) and Gao Lin have been integral to their success in September as they overcame the hiccup of a loss to Changchun Yatai a fortnight ago, to secure the title after a 4-1 win over Shaanxi Chanba on Wednesday.
When second-placed Beijing could only manage a 1-1 draw at Shandong Luneng later on that Wednesday, Guangzhou could officially celebrate and deservedly so. But the ambitious outfit won't stop there, with striker Gao Lin revealing after the game they now want to win the Asian Champions League.
Jeonbuk Motors (Korea)
Each month our worldwide team of editors will put forward a selected candidate, as chosen by Goal.com International, who deserves recognition for their performers over the course of the month.
Goal.com will also select an Asian Team of the Month as we look to provide more recognition and insight on football throughout the Asian continent.
| Asian Player of the Month | LEE DONG-GOOK |
Club: Jeonbuk Motors
Age: 32
Role: Striker
It's been another big month for the ex-Middlesbrough man who has revived his career since moving back to Korea in 2008. The 2009 K-League MVP is a favourite to win the award again after a fine season with runaway leaders Jeonbuk Motors, while his exploits in Asia's Champions League (ACL) this month earn him special recognition.
Lee's crowning moment came in the second leg of Jeonbuk's quarter-final tie against Cerezo Osaka where he scored four goals in a 6-1 rout of the Japanese side to seal a 9-5 aggregate victory. The 32-year-old had already scored twice in the 4-3 first-leg defeat.
The veteran, who retired from the national team after the 2010 Fifa World Cup, also scored in the 3-1 league win at Gyeongnam FC on September 18 to edge closer to the all-time K-League goalscoring record.
| Honourable Mentions |
Mojtaba Jabbari - Esteghlal & Iran
The smooth midfielder, who is known by Iranian fans as "Zidane", emerged as one of the Persian Gulf Cup's finest players in September, alongside Ali Karimi and Farhad Majidi. After receiving a call-up to the national team early in the month, Jabbari (right) scored in all three of Esteghlal's matches in September as the team moved into top spot. Jabbari's finest 90 minutes came in the 2-0 Tehran derby triumph over Persepolis where he created the opener and scored the sealer.
Joshua Kennedy - Nagoya Grampus & Australia
The beanpole striker was the Socceroos' hero during their 2014 Fifa World Cup qualifying victories, 2-1 against Thailand and 3-1 away to Saudi Arabia. Kennedy scored three goals during those matches, whilst providing the assist for Alex Brosque's winner against the Thais and earning the penalty for Luke Wilkshire's third against the Green Falcons. He also scored for Nagoya ensuring he remains the topscorer in the J-League with 15 strikes.
Teerasil Dangda - Muang Thong United & Thailand
The 23-year-old forward has been hitting the headlines in his native Thailand in the past few weeks with his performances for both club and country. Muang Thong may have been knocked out of the AFC Cup at the quarter-final stage, however, he shone brightest with the Thai national team scoring a fine volley in the 2-1 loss to Australia, while he set up one goal and scored another in the shock 3-0 win over Oman in World Cup qualifying.Ryuji Bando - Cerezo Osaka
The veteran forward (right) hasn't always been a starter for Cerezo but when given an opportunity off the bench he's rarely let the side down. In fact during September Bando scored a hat-trick as a substitute as Cerezo recovered from three goals down at the break to win 5-4 over Sanfrecce Hiroshima. Bando also scored in Cerezo's 4-3 ACL quarter-final first leg victory over Jeonbuk.
Karanjit Singh - Salgaocar SC
The 25-year-old Indian goalkeeper was in top form throughout September as the I-League champions went undefeated throughout the month and all the way to the Federation Cup crown. Singh had kept four clean sheets prior to a dubious penalty - which was converted - being awarded to East Bengal in the final which Salgaocar won 3-1. Otherwise it was a flawless month for India's number two keeper.
| Asian Team of the Month | GUANGZHOU EVERGRANDE |
The big-spending Guangdong-based outfit clinched the Chinese Super League (CSL) title on Wednesday with four games to spare and in their first season back in the top flight. Indeed, it's been a remarkable season for Lee Jang-Soo's Guangzhou.Guangzhou, who have only been beaten once this CSL season, have been runaway leaders all campaign with their significant financial backing helping them become the team to beat in China.
Recent high-profile recruits Dario Conca (right) and Gao Lin have been integral to their success in September as they overcame the hiccup of a loss to Changchun Yatai a fortnight ago, to secure the title after a 4-1 win over Shaanxi Chanba on Wednesday.
When second-placed Beijing could only manage a 1-1 draw at Shandong Luneng later on that Wednesday, Guangzhou could officially celebrate and deservedly so. But the ambitious outfit won't stop there, with striker Gao Lin revealing after the game they now want to win the Asian Champions League.
| Honourable Mentions |
Jeonbuk Motors (Korea)
The Jeonju-based club are an all-too-rare example of a team able to juggle their multiple commitments as they maintained their firm grip on top spot in Korea, whilst also reaching the final four of Asia's Champions League. Motors smashed in 16 goals in five games during September, highlighting they can achieve results whilst providing good entertainment.
Thailand
The War Elephants were the big surprise performers on the opening two matchdays of the third round of 2014 World Cup qualifying in the AFC, after pushing 2011 Asian Cup runners-up Australia all the way in Brisbane, with the Socceroos needing an 86th-minute winner to claim victory 2-1. Four days later, the aforementioned Dangda (right) played a major role as Thailand stunned Paul Le Guen's Oman 3-0 in Bangkok to confirm they aren't in Group D to make up the numbers.
Albirex Niigata (Singapore)
Tampines Rovers may be leading the way in Singapore's S.League, but third-placed Albirex are the form team, following big victories over fellow title contenders Etoile (7-2) and Home United (4-0). Albirex, who are a satellite team of the J-League club of the same name, also booked their spot in the Singapore Cup final with an extra-time semi-final win over Hougang United.
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