Song Lam Nghe An claimed top spot in Group F of the AFC Cup
Song Lam Nghe An claimed top spot in Group F of the AFC Cup with a comfortable 4-2 victory over VB at Vinh Stadium
Vinh: Song Lam Nghe An claimed top spot in Group F of the AFC Cup with a comfortable 4-2 victory over VB at Vinh Stadium.
Phan Nhu Thuat opened the scoring after 19 minutes before goals in the second-half from Nguyen Cong Manh, Thierry Ngale and Kavin Bryan put the hosts firmly in control.
Ashfaq Ali and Abu Desmond Mansaray then grabbed consolation goals for the visitors.
VB were first to threaten when Qasim Shamweel saw his long-range effort fly just past the post in the third minute.
Ismael Mohamed’s superb cross then found Adam Fazeeh in space after 17 minutes but the latter’s harmless shot did not trouble Song Lam keeper Imran Mohamed.
However, Song Lam were dominating possession and were happy to slow the tempo in midfield and wait for VB’s mistakes.
They duly opened the scoring in the 19th minute when promising midfielder Nguyen Hong Viet’s beautiful left-footed cross found Jamaica international Andre Fagan and although his header was punched out by keeper Imran Mohamed, Nhu Thuat converted the rebound for his second goal of the competition.
VB tried to hit back and almost levelled the game in the 42nd minute but Mansary’s free header hit the crossbar.
Heavy rain then lashed the ground at half-time and caused VB to lose some of their rhythm in the second-half.
Song Lam doubled their lead five minutes after the break thanks to a mix-up between defender Haneef Abdulla and his keeper that allowed Cong Manh to score.
Ngale then grabbed the third goal for the Vietnam Cup holders following a good cross from Nhu Thuat on the right flank. Substitute Bryan netted Song Lam Nghe An’s fourth on the hour mark with almost his first touch.
VB kept fighting until the end of the game, however, and the Maldivians’ perseverance was rewarded with two late goals.
First Ali converted a penalty kick two minutes from the end before Sierra Leonean striker Mansary also got on the score-sheet in stoppage time.
The-AFC.com
