With the semifinals out of the way, we head toward the gold medal match of the 2015 Southeast Asian Games men's football tournament at the majestic Sports Hub in Singapore on Monday night.
Underdogs Myanmar continued their fairy-tale run with a 2-1 victory over fancied Vietnam, while defending champions Thailand put on a perfect display of pass-and-move football in a stunning 5-0 win over Indonesia that had fans cooing at each and every move.
Choketawee Promrut's junior War Elephants' breathtaking style will go up against the manic speed demons of Myanmar, who breathe down teams' necks and hardly give an inch.
Here are the key battles that could be the difference:
1. Can the White Angels keep Messi Jay at bay?
He's sealed his status as one of the region's rising stars and could earn a contract with a European club in the near future. But Thailand's Chanathip Songkrasin -- affectionately known as Messi Jay -- has been cruising under the radar in this tournament.
His wizardry has been kept under wraps, and at times, his artistry was not needed in the group stages. His teammates were in full control, allowing their star player to save his best for the big games.
There was talk before the semifinal against Indonesia that Chanathip hadn't produced his best form, but in reality, he never needed to step up.
But a good player cannot resist the chance to showcase his talent on the big occasion, and that is exactly what the BEC Tero Sasana playmaker did.
With the mission accomplished at 4-0, Peerapat Notechaiya played a neat ball into his path, and the diminutive midfielder took a little swivel before unleashing an inch-perfect shot into the bottom left corner.
Chanathip's love for the short one-two combinations -- and his ability to glue the ball to his feet and go on penetrative runs -- will be key to unlocking a feisty Myanmar defence.
They will tackle and try to ruffle his feathers. The question is, can they close him down fast enough, or has Messi Jay got a party trick up his sleeve for the final?
2. Myanmar's unfathomable pressing tactics
They come at you from left, right and center. They charge down every ball and get in your face before you can even look up to decide your next move.
That is the Myanmar style of football that Kyi Lwin has ingrained into these young minds in Singapore. They are fearless and very difficult to play against.
Thura Shine drifts in between defence and midfield while Bo Hlaing Bo chases anything that moves as if his life depended on it.
Choketawee's well-oiled Thai machine must be ready to break out of its familiar formation to match Myanmar. The Thais completed their Group B matches with a total of 2,426 passes, out of which, 2,224 were successful. That is a 91.7% passing accuracy, which is an unbelievable statistic for any team at the international level.
With Sarach Yooyen expected to transition from defence to attack, his central midfield partner Thitiphan Puangjan has to be the willing runner to ensure Hlaing Bo doesn't stick solely to the Thai No. 6 for the entirety of the game.
Adisorn Promrak and Artit Daosawang have to keep communicating to ensure they don't get caught up with Naing Kaung Sat, which could spell trouble if Thura sneaks in from his wider role.
3. Sarach Yooyen versus Nay Lin Tun
While the Southeast Asian football fanatics continue to heap praise on the latest playmaking talent coming off the Thai production line, Myanmar's own version of a creative midfield force has emerged at this Games.
Sarach might be getting the headlines, but Myanmar captain Nay Lin Tun has been quietly ploughing along as his nation's brightest hope on the pitch.
With three goals in this campaign, Lin Tun has shown he is a free-kick specialist who can turn the game on its head with a simple flick of his deadly right foot.
Up against Sarach, Lin Tun's job will be to keep the Thai midfielder's passing ratio as low as possible. The White Angels' reckless counterattacks at breakneck speed could leave holes at the back that will benefit Sarach's vision of the through pass.
Not only can the Muangthong United youngster string the passes together, he can also score goals. His 81st-minute left-foot thunderbolt sent Malaysia tumbling out of the tournament.
This will be one of the key matchups of the 2015 final. It could all boil down to which of the two midfield extraordinaires wins the battle in the centre of the park.