SEA Games 2011 (12/11): Vietnam comfortable on top of group B

Vietnam are comfortable at the top of Group B when they totally outplayed Vietnam 8-0 in a Group B tie that was played at the Lebak Bulus Stadium this evening (12/11).

The win for Vietnam, the 2009 runners-up, made sure that they are comfortable in control of Group B while for Brunei; it is the end of the road of their campaign at the biennial championship even though they still have one more game to play for – against the Philippines on 15 November 2011.

After four matches in the group, Vietnam have picked up ten points while Brunei only have one point to their name.

The game started off ominously enough where just 51seconds into the tie, Vietnam were already in front when Nguyen Van Quyet headed in the cross from Hoang Van Binh to beat Brunei reserve keeper Junaidi Akim.

Two quick blitz in the 13^th and 14^th minute saw Van Quyet completing his hat-trick before captain Pham Thanh Luong then got into the scoring act two minutes later when he made good on a cross from Van Binh.

From then on, it was all Vietnam as they notched goal No. 5 off Le Van Thang in the 18^thminute as Hoang Van Binh then unleashed a superb right foot shot from some 25metres out to complete the half dozen goals. And the match is just half hour old.

The change for regular custodian Awangku Omar Nur Aqammadin Sallehuddin gave more confidence to the back line as he prevented Vietnam from adding to the scoreline as it stayed 6-0 to Vietnam’s advantage at the break.

The second half saw Vietnam not pushing as hard. At the start, they had their chances but either they were denied by Awangku Omar or the woodwork was there to deny them.

They finally managed to change the score line in the 57^th minute off Le Hoang Thien before Hoang Dinh Tung then made the score sheet in the 72^nd minute to put the score at 8-0.