Blunders cost Olympic team defeat in Asian Games opener
Two mistakes from goalkeeper To Vinh Loi and captain Nguyen Huy Hoang cost the Vietnamese Olympic team a 2-1 defeat to stronger opponents Olympic…
Vinh Loi made a mistake as he came far from the goal and failed to come back to block Sayed Mohamed Adnan”s loft from the centre of the field in the 33rd minute while Huy Hoang handballed to give Bahrain a spot kick. Adnan made no mistakes, scoring his second goal. Between two goals of Olympic Bahrain, Le Cong Vinh scored an equaliser.
Due to injuries of key players such as Thanh Binh, Duc Duong and Bao Khanh, before the match, the Vietnamese side started the game with goalkeeper Vinh Loi, defenders Quang Thanh, Huy Hoang, Minh Duc and Van Bien, midfielders Tan Tai, Hong Minh, Minh Chuyen and Vu Phong and forwards Cong Vinh and Anh Duc.
Olympic Bahrain with their better physical form dominated possession from the kick-off and they had their first opportunities after eight minutes. Fatadi Abdulla came close with a powerful strike, which was palmed away by goalkeeper Vinh Loi.
Five minutes later, Vu Phong had to clear off line a close range finish by a Bahrain player.
After ten minutes, the Vietnamese side replied with their first opportunity with Vu Phong volleying wide from the left edge of the box after Tan Tai”s cross in the 15th minute.
Nine minutes later, Tan Tai came close as he curled the ball just centimetres over the bar, collecting the ball after Bahrain goalkeeper Jaafar cleared Vu Phong”s corner kick.
In the 33rd minute, Adnan opened the scoring in the 33rd minute with a spectacular lofted shot that fooled Vinh Loi.
Cong Vinh restored the Vietnamese side”s hope as he equalised. After breaking the off-side trap, Cong Vinh deftly controlled a hopeful ball from Tan Tai before calmly finding the back of the net.
However, the Vietnamese players” joy last for just four minutes. Captain Huy Hoang” was penalised for handballing in an effort to head the ball clear. Adnan made no mistake, sending Vinh Loi to wrong way to restore a one goal lead for Olympic Bahrain.
Neither side were unable to find the net in the second half with Olympic Bahrain”s dominating the game but not creating many chances.
Their best chance in the second half belong to Abdullatif, whose far corner finish went wide after a good work from his teammate from the left wing.
In their second game, the Vietnamese team play one of the Asian powerhouses, the Republic of Korea while Bahrain play Bangladesh on December 2.
In an earlier game of Group B, medal favourites the Republic of Korea outplayed Bangladesh with an easy 3-0 victory.
Nhan dan
