Indonesia go top as Vietnam held by co-host Singapore
Vietnam were held to a goalless draw by co-host Singapore in their opening game of the Southeast Asian championship/AFF championship on January 13….
17/01/2007 00:00:00
Vietnam were held to a goalless draw by co-host Singapore in their opening game of the Southeast Asian championship/AFF championship on January 13. Thanh Binh found the net but was denied by a wrong decision by the referee.
Vietnam were held to a goalless draw by co-host Singapore in their opening game of the Southeast Asian championship/AFF championship on January 13. Thanh Binh found the net but was denied by a wrong decision by the referee.
In an earlier game of Group B, Indonesia came out of a 1-0 shock lead in the first half to win 3-1 with three goals scored by Atep and Saktiawan Sinaga in the second half. Sounthalay Saysongkham helped Laos take a 1-0 lead in the first half.
Vietnam welcomed back Nguyen Huy Hoang who partnered Vu Nhu Thanh at centreback and Thach Bao Khanh on the left wing.
Meanwhile, Singapore recalled Lionel Lewis and Noh Alam Shah, who were sidelined in the match between the two sides during the King”s Cup in Bangkok in last December, in which Singapore lost 3-2.
As co-hosts, Singapore produced an aggressive start and they pushed the Vietnamese team all the way in the first 15 minutes.
The first opportunity belonged to Noh, who ran down on the left flank and sidenetted from a narrow angle after 17 minutes.
Earlier, in the first 15 minutes, Vietnamese defenders had to work hard under heavy pressure from the Lions.
After standing firm against the hosts” pressure, the Vietnamese side launched their attacks on Singapore”s defence. Le Cong Vinh, who had recovered from a knee injury, tested Lewis with a shot from outside the penalty box, which was caught comfortably by the Singaporean goalie.
On the opposite side, goalkeeper Quang Huy of Vietnam faced no troubles with a shot by Shi Jia Yi and a header by Noh.
After the break, the Vietnamese side produced heavy pressure on the home side, defence and skipper Minh Phuong came very close to scoring as his distance shot was just centimetres over the bar. Minh Phuong then saw his shot deflected Mustafic Fahrudin and went wide.
Singapore replied with a Shi”s shot from outside the penalty box, which was headed away by Quang Thanh.
Coach Avramovic of Singapore brought on Itimi Dickson for Muhammad Ridhuan, which Phung Van Nhien also came in for Vietnam to replace Bao Khanh.
Thanh Binh got the ball in the net of Singapore but the goal was disallowed as the referee thought the Vietnamese striker had pushed Aide Iskandar before slotting the ball past Lewis. However, TV replay showed no fouls from Thanh Binh and the Lions were very lucky to avoid going 1-0 down. Commentators from Star Sports Channel admitted: SIt was a poor decision and Singapore were very lucky.⬝
In the final minute, Cong Vinh”s finish deflected a Singaporean defender and went wide.
Sharing points Vietnam and Singapore are now behind Indonesia who won 3-1 over Laos in an earlier game.
Singapore: Lionel Lewis, Daniel Bennett, Precious Emuejeraye, Aide Iskandar, Shunmughan Subramani, Mustafic Fahrudin, S Ishak, Si Jia Yi, Muhammad Ridhuan, Noh Alam Shah, and Khairul Amri.
Vietnam: Bui Quang Huy, Nguyen Huy Hoang, Vu Nhu Thanh, Huynh Quang Thanh, Nguyen Van Bien, Thach Bao Khanh, Le Hong Minh, Nguyen Minh Phuong, Le Tan Tai, Le Cong Vinh and Phan Thanh Binh.
* Two goals by Atep and one by substitute Saktiawan Sinaga in the second half helped Indonesia came from behind to beat Laos 3-1 in their opening game of Group B. Sounthalay Saysongkham surprisingly opened the scoring after 13 minutes.
Nhan dan
