Hard-fought win sends Vietnam to semi-finals

Vietnam will play Myanmar tomorrow for the right to challenge either Thailand or Singapore for the coveted Southeast Asian (SEA) Games Cup.

A 2-1 victory over Laos in Nakhon Ratchasima Province, Thailand, netted Vietnam their place in the semi-finals.

The score put the national team at the atop Group B.

Myanmar were second after a 2-2 with reigning champions Thailand last Friday.

Vietnam won against Laos last Saturday despite their shock defeat to Singapore in the first match of the tournament.

But victory was by no means forgone.

Lao attacker Maosinto Lam took advantage of Vietnam’s sparse defence in the 16th minute to fire past defenders Nguyen Thanh Long Giang and Doan Viet Cuong.

The ball nipped into the net under goalie To Vinh Loi’s foot.

This set off a moment of confusion among the Vietnamese players with forwards far from the action and defenders shying from high balls.

“One more time we let our rivals score first because of mistakes made by our defenders,” Vietnam coach Alfred Riedl said after the match.

After ten nail-biting minutes, Viet Cuong won the ball in a scuffle in front of the Lao net to tap in the levelling score past Laos keeper Tulakham.

In the last minute of the first half, it was the turn of striker Phan Thanh Binh, who took advantage of Tulakham’s position to loop the ball over his head and bag a 2-1 score for Vietnam.

It was a hard-won victory, coach Reidl said.

“The players were under a lot of pressure. It was an important match we had to win to enter the semis. It was difficult. Laos have made a lot of progress and played comfortably. I have to congratulate Laos’ Russian coach. He did his job very well.”

Reidl said although he’s happy with the final result, especially because Vietnam topped the group, the team still has much to do.

“The next match will be different. Myanmar are a strong team who have good ball passes. But I don’t know much about them other than what I saw in their match with Thailand.”

In group B, Singapore tied with Malaysia 1-1.

VNS