Hosts beat Jamaica 3-0 in friendly

Hosts Vietnam beat Jamaica 3-0 in a friendly in Hanoi, just prior the kick-off of the 2007 AFC Asian Cup, on June 24

Skipper Le Cong Vinh opened the scoring for the Vietnamese team, firing home a 20 metre freekick after eight minutes.

Tran Duc Duong, who was given a chance to play as central midfielder due to the absence of Nguyen Minh Phuong and Phan Van Tai Em, extended the lead 20 minutes into the second half

Substitutes Huynh Phuc Hiep and Nguyen Anh Duc combined well to set up Anh Duc who scored the third goal five minutes from time.

Coach Alfred Riedl lined up Tran Duc Duong and Nguyen Minh Chuyen as central midfielders for sidelined Tai Em and Minh Phuong, and Mai Tien Thanh for injured Nguyen Van Bien at leftback.

It was Jamaica who had the first opportunity. Five minutes from kick off, Demar Phillips made a good through ball from the left flank for Wory Wolfe, who cut the Vietnamese defence apart and slotted the ball to the far corner, but goalie Bui Quang Huy made a good save.

The Vietnamese team were dangerous on the counter attacks. On eight minutes, Cong Vinh was fouled by Donal Stewart, who stopped Cong Vinh from moving forwards in a counter attack. Cong Vinh took the freekick, 20 metres away from Jamaica”s goal, curling the ball past the defending wall and goalie Alien Whittaker.

After the break, Duc Duong helped Vietnam double their lead. After Nguyen Vu Phong”s corner kick, the ball was cleared by a Jamaican defender, which fell onto the path of Duc Duong, whose powerful volley went through legs of the Jamaican defenders and goalie Whittaker into the net.

The Jamaican side, featuring inexperienced players who play in their domestic league, had their best chance on 70 minutes, when Wolfe rounded Vu Nhu Thanh and finished from a narrow angle, which was turned onto the upright by Bui Quang Huy.

Nguyen Anh Duc, who came on for Phan Thanh Binh, and Huynh Phuc Hiep, who replaced Cong Vinh, combined with Tan Tai in a counter attack, setting up Anh Duc to score the third goal in the closing minute.

Two minutes earlier, Phuc Hiep came close to scoring on his debut, when his header after Vu Phong”s good cross was blocked by Whittaker. In the stoppage time, Phuc Hiep was lucky as his finish flew directly to Whittaker.

After the match, coaches Alfred Riedl of Vietnam and Velidor Milutinovic of Jamaica spoke highly of Vietnamese players” performance.

Mr Riedl said that the Vietnamese team deserved to win. Even though its was just a friendly, the result was good preparation for his men for the 2007 AFC Asian Cup.

Mr Milutinovic said he saw a strong and fast Vietnam, who had made progress since 1998, when Mr Milutinovic coached China, when beat Vietnam in the qualifying round of the 2002 World Cup.

He said that his team featured youthful under 23 side. They were without services of seven key players who play abroad or had joined the Jamaica national team at the CONCACAF Gold Cup. 

Nhan dan