Viet Nam take out Singapore

Super sub Nguyen Quang Hai scored the winning goal in the 75th minute of the country’s game against Singapore yesterday – kitted out in lucky No 13. 

It was the only goal in Viet Nam’s 1-0 victory at the AFF Suzuki Cup’s second leg semi-final at Singapore’s Stadium yesterday. In last Wednesday’s first leg semi-final, Viet Nam tied withSingapore 0-0 in Ha Noi. 

Yesterday’s win puts Viet Nam though to a two-leg final against Thailand on Wednesday.

The first leg against Thailand will kick off in Bangkok on Wednesday, the second will be played in Viet Nam four days later.

Superstitious Viet Nam team coach Henrique Calisto sent Hai onto the field in lucky jersey number No 13, hoping for a good result.

After just five minutes on the pitch, Hai sent the crowd into frenzy by rattling the net after intercepting a crafty cross from striker Le Cong Vinh.

Defending champions Singapore went in to the match with the advantage of a home game and a scoreless draw in the first leg.

Singapore’s offensive attacks began early, with striker Alam Shah threatening Vietnamese Duong Hong Son with four shots in the first half.

Vietnamese goalie Duong Hong Son blocked a cracking strike from the tenacious stricker in the 23rd minute.

Agu Casmir’s well-targeted corner kick in the first half was stopped by Vietnamese midfielder Pham Thanh Luong right at the goal line.

Viet Nam drew back to make a solid defence against Singapore’s powerful offense. The team finished the first half against Singapore with only one off target shot by Nguyen Vu Phong.

After the break, the hosts continued to dominate the game with fast, long high balls pushingViet Nam down the field.

But Singapore were off-form on the day, with strikers missing open chances to take scores.

Viet Nam kept cool and played a clever game with low passes, good teamwork and strong centre-field defence.

Captain Phan Van Tai Em and Nguyen Minh Chau did their best to curb Singapore with centre defenders Vu Nhu Thanh and Le Phuong Tu, beating back their attacks.

Substitute Quang Hai broke the deadlock in the 75th minute with an effort to trail the cross from Cong Vinh.

In the last minute, left wingback Dao Viet Cuong was sent off with a red card after receiving his second yellow card.

Thailand struggle

Thailand made their fifth appearance in the final of the AFF Suzuki Cup 2008 when they beatIndonesia 2-1 in the second leg semi-finals for an aggregate 3-1 victory here at Stadium Rajamangala.

But the win was not an easy walk on the park for the Thais where they had to come back from being a goal down in the first half before scoring twice after the break for the well-deserved victory.

The win for Thailand came at a price where they will have to play the first leg final on 24 December at the same venue of the Stadium Rajamangala without the influential Suchao Nutnum, who picked up his second yellow card in the game last Saturday.

“Credit to Indonesia for changing the system and that made all the difference on the night,” said Peter Reid, the head coach for Thailand.

“But I told the players that they have to be patient as considering the defensive work rate which Indonesia was doing, there was no way they could keep it up in the second half.

“Football is 90 minutes long. You don’t win in 45 minutes.”

“Thailand have quality in every department, so it was difficult for us to play an open game,” added Benny Dolo, the head coach for Indonesia.

“We have to play a close game and wait for the quick counter-attacks. Bambang (Pamungkas) is a little injured and he could not play for the full 90 minutes.”