SEA Games 2011: Win over Timor has rejuvenate Viet Nam

The 2-0 victory over Timor Leste last night has rejuvenated Vietnam for the remainder of their campaign at the SEA Games this year.

U23 Viet Nam’ captain Pham Thanh Luong

In what was perhaps their hardest game to date, the win over a confident Timor side was aided by the loss of Murilo Ribeiro for the latter early in the game.

And Vietnam did not need to get a second invitation as they took advantage to score two goals off Nguyen Troang Hoang in the 52^nd minute and AU Van Hoan in the 64^th minute.

“Timor Leste is a strong team and they made full use of their physical advantage. They had also two of their previous matches which meant that they are well prepared for us,” said Falko Goetz, the chief coach of Vietnam at the post match press conference last night.

“But the win was important as it has injected more confidence in our players and also rejuvenated the team for the remainder of the campaign.”

In their first match against the Philippines the Vietnamese, the 2009 runners-up, were far from impressive as they were trailing to their opponents before an own goal gave the team the impetus to revive their game and eventually win the tie 3-1.

The Vietnamese were more conservative in their second match against Myanmar and despite playing against ten men, they just could not find the break through as the end result stood scoreless.

“I hope that we can build from this win to ensure our place in the next round and on,” quipped Goetz.

But with the full points on the night against Timor, Vietnam are now second in Group B behind Myanmar with the latter taking the lead on better goal difference. Timor have now slipped down to third from two wins and a loss.

Vietnam’s next match will be against Brunei on 12 November before rounding off their group campaign against Laos on 17 November 2011.