Hosts earn first point after 1-1 draw with Qatar
Hosts Vietnam failed to earn their first full three points, drawing 1-1 with Qatar at home on September 8.
09/09/2007 00:00:00
Hosts Vietnam failed to earn their first full three points, drawing 1-1 with Qatar at home on September 8.
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| Vietnamese supporters at the My Dinh stadium |
Mohammed Abdularaab Alyazidi put Qatar in front after ten minutes and Nguyen Vu Phong equalised three minutes later.
SIt was an exciting match. I think, Vietnam were the better side but we unfortunately could not win,⬝ said Vietnam coach Alfred Riedl at a post-match press conference.
Vietnam were the better side, creating many chances, but failed to convert. In the second half, Nguyen Anh Duc and skipper Le Cong Vinh came close to sealing the winners.
The pair saw their finishes went centimetres wide of the post of Rajab Hamza Kassim.
In the closing minutes, centreback Mai Xuan Hop came closest to earning Vietnam points as the ball hit the post, then the crossbar, after his left-footed freekick.
After the draw, Vietnam have only one points after two games. They lost 1-0 in Japan in their first game of the AFC Final Round of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
SWe earned a draw, so it will be very difficult for us to win the top place in the group,⬝ Mr Rield went on.
SSaudi Arabia are even better than Qatar, despite their 1-0 defeat. Therefore, the Wednesday clash will be very tough for us,⬝ the coach predicted the match with Saudi Arabia four days later.
Vietnam started the game with a change to the squad, which lost 1-0 to Japan, with Nguyen Minh Chuyen omitted due to an injury and Mai Tien Thanh got a place in starting XI.
It was Vietnam who dominated the opening quarter and needed only two minutes to have their first chance.
Skipper Le Cong Vinh tried his luck with a freekick outside the Qatari box after Nguyen Anh Duc was fouled. However, the PVFC Song Lam Nghe An striker blasted just over.
The hosts came close three minutes later with Nguyen Vu Phong”s freekick forced Rajab Hamza Kassim into action, turning the ball aside.
Despite the hosts” dominance, Qatar surprisingly opened the scoring in their first opportunity, which came after ten minutes.
Mohammed Abdularaab Alyazidi slotted the ball past the reach of goalie Duc Cuong, after centreback Nguyen Thanh Long Giang failed to clear the ball, which was flicked into the box.
Three minutes later, Vu Phong drew level, finishing neatly after a good pass by Cong Vinh as Vietnam was awarded a freekick outside the Qatari box. Skipper earlier was challenged down by Abdularaab Alyazidi.
The hosts came close on several times after Vu Phong”s goal. Cong Vinh and Tien Thanh produced a good one-two exchange, before Tien Thanh sent a good low pass into the box for Vu Phong, who failed to connect to the ball.
At the other end, Duc Cuong only faced distance shots.
Just before half-time, the hosts found the Kassim net but the goal was disallowed by the lineman, who had judged that Anh Duc handled the ball in. Anh Duc was yellow-carded for his handling.
After the break, Vietnam continued to be the better side with Vu Phong and Tien Thanh causing many troubles to the Qatari defence.
Tien Thanh produced a good combination with skipper Cong Vinh, and flicked in a superb cross, which Anh Duc finished off just wide.
Minutes later, Vu Phong set up Cong Vinh with a neat pass, but only for the skipper to see his finish fly wide.
At the other end, the hosts could have paid the price for Xuan Hop”s mistake, passing the ball directly to a Qatari player, who sent a good pass for Mohamed Elsayed Sayed but the striker shot just wide.
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| Man of the Match Vu Phong |
Despite a draw, Mr Riedl appreciated his men, especially leftback Vo Nhat Tan and central midfielder Vo Duy Nam.
SWe have young and inexperience players. Only Vu Phong and Cong Vinh were regular players at the national team at the AFC Asian Cup 2007. The like of Anh Duc and Cong Minh came in from the bench. However, they did a good job.⬝
Qatar coach Hassan Harmatallah Sbai said: SI was happy with the result. The draw is better than the loss. We are in a good position as we have had four points after two games.
Vietnam are a good side, and well-organised team. Vietnamese players are strong physically and tactically. Therefore, the match was tough for us. Vietnamese players caused many troubles to us.⬝
Vietnam: Tran Duc Cuong, Doan Viet Cuong, Nguyen Thanh Long Giang, Vo Nhat Tan, Nguyen Vu Phong, Phung Cong Minh, Vo Duy Nam, Mai Tien Thanh, Le Cong Vinh and Nguyen Anh Duc;
Qatar: Rajab Hamza Kassim, Maaz Yosif Adam, Tahir Zakariya Muhammad, Musa Haroon Jama, Majdi Abdulla Siddiq, Bilal Mohammed Rajab, Ali Hassan A Yahya, Talal Ali Albloushi, Mohamed Elsayed Sayed, Mohammed Salem Alhamad, and Mohammed Abdulraab Alyazidi.
– Nhan Dan –
