Group I: Viettel FC (VIE) 5-1 Young Elephants FC (LAO)
Ho Chi Minh City: Vietnam’s Viettel FC romped to a 5-1 victory against Laos’ Young Elephants in the opening match of Group I of the AFC Cup™ 2022 on Friday.
25/06/2022 14:09:24
Brazilian forward Pedro Paulo was the star of the show on home soil, registering a hat-trick while Hoang Minh Nguyen Duc and Manh Dung Nham added the other two.
Pic: Tuan Huu
Just six minutes into the game, it was Bounphachan Bounkong who opened the scoring for Young Elephants to stun the group hosts, the club captain pouncing on the ball inside the Vietnamese penalty area before sweeping home for the lead.
Viettel took some time to regroup, but when they did, their response was emphatic. Duong Van Hào’s initial effort was saved by the goalkeeper before Paulo followed through to restore parity three minutes after the half-hour mark.
The Brazilian ensured his side went into the break with the lead, adding his second of the night in a similar fashion in the 40th minute, before the advantage was further extended through Duc Hoang Minh who converted Paulo’s pass into the back of the net in the final minute of the half.
It was more of the same after the restart and Viettel cruised further ahead in the 70th minute when Paulo completed his hat-trick in style, beating the goalkeeper following a fine through pass from his compatriot Geovane Magno.
Eight minutes before the final whistle, Tran Danh Trung set up Nham Manh Dung who made it 5-1 for the group hosts, finding the bottom corner with composure.
Viettel will take on Cambodia’s Phnom Penh Crown on Matchday Two while Young Elephants face Hougang United of Singapore in their next game.
Source: AFC
