VN dispatch Laos and ready for Myanmar
Defending champion Vietnam defeated Laos 4-1 in the second round of women’s football at the 24th SEA Games in Thailand last Saturday.
The three-time champs who already have a berth in the semi-final round did not need to field their strongest players in the match but still dominated.
Goals were scored at the first half’s second and 45th minute by halfback Nguyen Thi Mai Lan and striker Tuyet Mai, respectively.
Substitute Vu Thi Huyen Linh scored the third goal for Vietnam at the 62nd minute before Phasanvanh put her team on the board. Vietnam went on to score one more accidental goal off the foot of a Lao player in a skirmish near the goal box.
Following the match, Vietnam tops Group A with six points, following by Laos and the Philippines at one point each.
Vietnam will face Southeast Asian champions Myanmar in the semi-final round today while Laos face Thailand.
It will be an “early final” for both Vietnam and Myanmar who face each other in each of the last three SEA Games’ women’s football finals. Vietnam prevailed each time but lost to Myanmar in the regional championships in Vietnam last year. Myanmar then successfully defended their title this year.
“Myanmar have progressed strongly, but they display some weak points that Vietnam can make use of to take victory,” said assistant coach Thuy Nga.
“The Myanmar players have good physical strength which helps them play with one-and-one tactics. They also have an advantage when competing for the ball but there’s a lack of understanding and combination among their young players. In their line-up, only the keeper plays very well and the two midfielders are OK. Their strikers and defenders are not that outstanding,” Nga said.
“We have found ways to play them, and I believe that we will enter the final.”
VNS
