Hosts come from behind to beat Bahrain 5-3

Hosts Vietnam came from 1-0 down to beat Bahrain 5-3 in a friendly in My Dinh on June 30. The scorers for the Vietnamese team include Le Cong Vinh, Mai Tien Thanh, Phan Thanh Binh and Nguyen Anh Duc.

Meanwhile, Mohmood Abdulrahman, Ala”a Ahmen Habail and Jaycee John Akwani were named in the scoresheet for Bahrain.

Vietnam made four changes in their starting XI, with Duong Hong Son replacing Bui Quang Huy in goal, Phung Van Nhien coming for injured Huynh Quang Thanh at rightback, Nguyen Minh Phuong and Phan Van Tai Em replacing Tran Duc Duong and Nguyen Minh Chuyen.

The hosts made a dreadfully poor start, going 1-0 down after three minutes. Husain Ali Ahmeh made a good run, cutting in from the left flank and setting up Ala”s Ahmed Hubail, whose shot was blocked by Hong Son. Abdulrahman quickly slotted the rebound into the net.

However, it took the hosts eight minutes to level the score. Phung Van Nhien”s pinpoint cross from the right wing, set up striker Cong Vinh to beat towering Bahrain defenders to head home the equaliser, gaiving Ali Hassan Ali Hussain no chances.  

Six minutes after the equaliser, the hosts went in front for the first time. Ali Hussain made a mistake when he cleared the ball directly to Cong Vinh, who did not miss the gift, slotting the ball into the unguarded net.

At the other end, Abdulrahman continued to be the most dangerous Bahrain player, testing his luck with a long distance shot, which troubled Hong Son.

After Thanh Binh failed to get his final touch to reach Cong Vinh”s good cross, Bahrain replied immediately with Ali Ahmed having two chances in one minute. His first shot was saved by Hong Son and the second sidenetted.

Four minutes from half time, Thanh Binh and Cong Vinh made a good combination to release leftback Tien Thanh, whose shot was saved by Ali Hussain.

Ali Hussain made his second mistakes in the match, fumbling the ball into the net after Tien Thanh”s 30 metre finish seven minutes into the second half.

After the hour mark, Ahmed Hubail narrowed the gap, finding the net from a close range after a good work by Abdulrahman, who rounded Le Tan Tai before flicked the ball past Vietnamese defenders and goalie Hong Son.

The hosts almost restored their two goal lead six minutes later when Nguyen Vu Phong”s header after a good cross by Minh Phuong was denied by Ali Hussain, who also made a good save against Tan Tai”s finish after the rebound fell onto his path.

Substitute John Akwani levelled the score after centreback Vu Nhu Thanh”s mistake. The Bahraini striker made no mistakes, slotting the ball past Hong Son on 72 minutes.

However, Bahrain”s joy last for only five minutes. Substitute Nguyen Anh Duc, who came in for Cong Vinh after the break, released Van Nhien, who cut in and powered a finish from outside the box. Ali Hussain blocked Van Nhien”s finish but was unable to stop Thanh Binh from slotting home the rebound.

It was Anh Duc again to release Thanh Binh with a neat through ball but Thanh Binh”s finish was saved by Ali Hussain just five minutes from time.

Phung Cong Minh, who replaced Phan Van Tai Em and Thanh Binh combined to set up Anh Duc with a neat pass and the striker rounded Ali Hussain before finding the unguarded net.

In stoppage time, Anh Duc had another chance to score but his shot to the far corner of Ali Hussain went inches wide.

SIt was an exciting math for all of us,⬝ said Vietnam coach Alfred Riedl when he started the post match press conference. SHowever, the victory says nothing to next matches against the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Japan,⬝ Mr Riedl was cautious when predicting about the result of the clashes between his team with top Asian opponents.

SBahrain are strong team. They played very well and we won with a little luck,⬝ Mr Riedl added.

Talking about centreback Huy Hoang and Nhu Thanh, the coach said that it was tough for them to compete with strong strikers. They had to work hard. In the matches against the UAE, Qatar and Japan, they will face more problems from top strikers, who are much better than strikers in the domestic league.

Meanwhile, coach Milan Macala said: SWe have problems with two defenders and goalkeeper. We have known the problems during our training in Austria and will have to find solutions before competing in Indonesia.⬝

Vietnam: Duong Hong Son; Vu Nhu Thanh, Nguyen Huy Hoang, Mai Tien Thanh, Phung Van Nhien; Nguyen Minh Phuong, Phan Van Tai Em, Le Tan Tai, Nguyen Vu Phong; Le Cong Vinh and Phan Thanh Binh; and

Bahrain: Ali Hasan Ali Hussain, Mohamed Hussain Mohd, Abdullah Rahman Marzooq, Mahmood Abdulrahman, Rashed Rahman Saif, Husain Ali Ahmed, Abdullah Baba Fatadi, Salman Isa Ali, Abdulla Ismael Omar, Husain Hussain Maki, Ala”a Ahmed Hubail.

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