National team win opener at HCM City International Football Tournament – SJC Cup 2009

Nguyen Quang Hai scored the only goal to help Vietnam’s senior team beat defending champions Turkmenistan 1-0 at the HCMCity International Football Tournament at Thong Nhat Stadium on October 20.

In the 58h minute, Hai made a good run to beat the offside trap before rocketing the ball past the Turkmenistan goalkeeper Berdiyev Bayramniyaz. 

Nguyen Quang Hai scored the only goal to help Vietnam’s senior team beat defending championsTurkmenistan 1-0 – Photo: VNE

The victory is a success for the Vietnam team that played without star striker Le Cong Vinh, who is playing for football club Lexoes in the Portuguese premier league. Midfielders Nguyen Vu Phong and Huynh Quang Thanh were also unable to play because of their participation in the Asian Football Confederation Cup second-leg semi-final in Syria.

Turkmenistan sped up the match in the first few minutes with several shots on the goal, but Vietnamese goalkeeper Duong Hong Son made perfect saves.

Striker Karadanov Mamedaly also faced off with the Vietnamese goalie, but his shots were unable to penetrate the goal in the 82nd minute and Berdiyev Omar’s header went wide, which sealed the team’s fate.

“The victory is not a surprise, but a deserved win because our players competed with determination, confidence and concentration,” coach’s assistant Le Huynh Duc said during the post-match conference.

VNS/VOV