Vietnam eases up, loses to Indonesia

Vietnam fielded a second-string team for its inconsequential final group match against Indonesia Saturday at the SEA Games and lost 1-0.

But the three points mean Indonesia has become the frontrunner to join Vietnam in the semifinal. It plays its final match against Laos and a win would ensure qualification.

However, the group is fascinatingly poised. A loss or draw for Indonesia would mean the qualification would boil down to the result of the Singapore-Myanmar match. Only Myanmar is out of contention as of now and any of the other three could join Vietnam in the semis.

In the match Saturday in Bacolod town in the Philippines, the only goal was scored in the 65^thminute by Indonesian Saktiawan Sinaga.

It followed an attack along the middle which culminated in Mahyadi Pangganbean blasting a low shot which was half-blocked by goalie Duc Cuong. But the ball began to roll towards the goal and Sinaga pounced on it to shoot home.

The Vietnamese team played badly passing shoddily and wasting several chances.