Hosts finish third at Agribank Cup

(ND.O) Vietnam finished third, behind Olympic Uzbekistan and Olympic Finland, with one win and two losses.

Le Tan Tai levelled the scored and Phan Thanh Binh came close for the hosts and Olympic Finland gained three points they deserved to finish runners-up.

Vietnam coach Alfred Riedl made five changes to the squad which beat Olympic Zimbabwe 2-0 on November 3.

Skipper Le Cong Vinh returned to partner Phan Thanh Binh as two frontmen. Nguyen Anh Duc, who set up Phung Cong Minh to open the scoring, was sacrificed to pave way for Cong Vinh”s return. 

Nguyen Vu Phong were back to the starting squad in replacement of Mai Tien Thanh, who was not even registered on bench.

Nguyen Thanh Long Giang, who was replaced by Nguyen Dai Dong, retained his position as a centreback alongside Mai Xuan Hop.

Chau Phong Hoa replaced his teammate at Dong Thap Doan Viet Cuong as a fullback.

Goalie Tran Duc Cuong returned to and To Vinh Loi was back to the bench.

It was Olympic Finland, who played better in the first opening stage, pushing hosts Vietnam to their own half.

However, the first clear chance in the game belonged to the hosts after seven minutes. Le Tan Tai and Thanh Binh combined for Thanh Binh to provide a good cross for skipper Cong Vinh, who headed just wide.

At the other end, Eetu Muinonen forced goalie Duc Cuong to save his powerful finish from the left edge of the Vietnam box.

Olympic Finland went in front after 17 minutes. Tommi Kari”s quick volley near the edge line of the box, after a good cross from the left flank, sent the ball to the top of the net.

Leftback Chau Phong Hoa tried his luck with a distance shot, after Cong Vinh”s back pass, but Finland goalie Ville Iiskola saved comfortably.     

Vo Duy Nam wasted a good chance before half-time as he produced a quick finish, which went wide after a Finland defender failed to clear the ball in his box.

Earlier, Vu Phong tried to test Iiskola with finishes from outside the box but could hardly trouble the Finland stopper.

Two minutes into second half, hosts Vietnam equalised through Le Tan Tai”s effort.

Vu Phong cut in from the left wing and curled the ball to the far corner. Iiskola blocked Vu Phong”s shot but failed to stop Tan Tai from slotting the rebound home.

Thanh Binh should have put Vietnam in front two minutes later, diving to head Cong Vinh”s pass, but only to see his attempt turned aside by Iiskola.

One minute after the hour mark, Mika Aaritalo restored Finland”s lead as he made a good run from the centre of the field, overtaking Long Giang before slotted the ball past Duc Cuong.

Skipper Cong Vinh came close to equalising as his header just missed upright. The Vietnam skipper missed another chance in stoppage time, failing to beat Iiskola from a close range, after a good cross by Viet Cuong, who came in for Quang Thanh in the second half.

In an earlier match, Olympic Uzbekistan shared the spoils with Under-23 Zimbabwe to be crowned champions.

ND.O