VIETNAM COMPLETE SEMI-FINALS CAST
Vietnam completed the cast in the semi-finals of the AFF Suzuki Cup 2008 this year when they beat Laos 4-0 in the final match day of Group B here at the…
With Thailand already making the last four following their easy 3-0 win overMalaysia in the first game earlier, the win for Vietnam ensured that they emerge as the second best team from the group.
The Vietnamese scored all their goals in the second half off Nguyen Viet Thang in the 48th minute, Pham Thanh Luong (63rd), Huynh Quang Thanh (66th) and Phan Thanh Binh (81st).
“We had some problems in the first half but we changed the attitude of the players during the break and they improved tremendously,” said Henrique Calisto, the head coach of Vietnamafterwards.
“The field was not easy to play on and after scoring the first goal, we settled in well to control the game.
“But Laos are not a bad team and they have some good players too. They had their moments.”
Needing at least a draw to make sure of their place in the next round, Vietnam came out with all guns blazing as they utilized the majority of their first eleven including striker Le Cong Ving and two-goal hero Nguyen Vu Phong.
Le Quang Cuong and Phan Thanh Luong came off with a double chance in the sixth and eight minute but the ball just went past a yawning goal mouth.
In the 12th minute, Vietnam came agonizingly close but a header from Thach Bao Khanh came off the cross bar instead.
Two minutes later, Laos replied with their first chance of the game but Lamnao Singto’s hardwork saw him being brought down for a futile freekick.
In the 25th minute, Vu Nhu Thanh’s shot came off Laos defenderKitsada Thongkhen while three minutes later, Nguyen Vu Phong’s wicked shot took an awkward bounce and almost had Toulakham Sitthidaphone beaten but for his quick reflex.
Vietnam finished the half with a scorcher from Thach Bao Khang but Toulakham was there to parry it out.
But just three minutes into the second half, Vietnam finally went in front when Viet Than ran in from the flanks for a shot from inside the box to sent their several hundred cheering fans into a frenzy.
From then on, Vietnam never looked back as in the 63rd minute, Thanh Luong then added the second goal before Quang Thanh and Thanh Binh slammed home the third and fourth goal respectively.
“We played well in the first half,” added Niwat Klaysang, the team manager for Laos.
“But we were a little inexperienced against a team as formidable as Vietnam.”
