VietNam Culture: Singapore

Showing posts with label Singapore. Show all posts

Thursday, December 9, 2010

VN beat Singapore 1-0 in AFF quarters

Running wild: Vietnamese midfielder Quang Thanh (left) wins the ball in Viet Nam's AFF Cup quarter-final match against Singapore yesterday. Vu Phong scored the only goal of the game, putting the home side and defending champions through to the next round. — VNA/VNS Photo Quoc Khanh

HA NOI — Ten-man Viet Nam defeated Singapore 1-0 to go through to the semi-finals of the Southeast Asian Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup yesterday at Ha Noi's My Dinh Stadium.

Millions of Vietnamese flooded the streets of the city to celebrate the victory. If Viet Nam had drawn with Singapore, they would have failed to qualify for the next round and Singapore would have gone through instead.

Nguyen Vu Phong scored the only goal of the game with a gentle tap past goal keeper Hassan in the 32nd minute of the match. Phong's goal followed a three-pass combination started by midfielder Nguyen Trong Hoang and which took in diminutive Thanh Luong.

"My players have played very well in all of their matches, not only today's. Whenever they have had a chance to attack they attacked, and they also defended very well," said Viet Nam's manager Henrique Calisto.

"Today, Viet Nam created many chances and one was turned into a goal but we lost control of the game when Trong Hoang was sent off [in the 63rd minute]. That forced me to replace talented Thanh Luong with a defender and Viet Cuong was sidelined because of injury," Calisto said.

"I have to thank the fans for their great support, which was important to raising my players' spirits in a difficult situation," he added.

The Portuguese coach also praised left defender Cuong, who asked to continue playing despite being injured in the first half.

Most of Singapore's players dropped to the ground when the final whistle came, having missed out on several opportunities to level the match.

"My players tried their best but we were unlucky today. We had enough chances during the game and I am disappointed they did not get a goal," said Singapore's coach Radojko Avramovic.

"Meanwhile their failed corner kick was the start of the Vietnamese counter-attack, from which they scored."

The Serbian coach wished Viet Nam good luck at the end of the match, but criticised some of the refereeing.

"My goalkeeper was given a yellow card [for time wasting] when he was simply considering his options. Meanwhile, Vietnamese players who tried to waste time received nothing," he said.

Calisto meanwhile said Singapore's elimination from the tournament was a pity because they were a good team.

When asked about Malaysia, who Viet Nam will meet in the semis, Calisto would not be drawn, and said simply he wanted to savour the quarter-final victory.

The other semi-final will see the Philippines, who for the first time have qualified for the knock-out stages of the competition, will play Indonesia, who sent title favourites Thailand packing on Tuesday with a 2-0 victory at home.

The first leg of the semi-finals will take place on December 15-16. The second leg will be three days later.

Vietnamese players have been promised a bonus of VND7 billion (US$350,000) if they successfully defend their title. — VNS

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Vietnam faces early Cup exit

Vietnam's football team will meet Singapore in a make-or-break match in
Group B of the ASEAN Football Championship AFF-Suzuki Cup on Dec. 8.

The hosts, who lost 2-0 to the Philippines on Dec. 5, must win to guarantee a spot in the semi-finals.

The Philippines, who lead the group with four points, need only a draw with Myanmar to qualify for the last four.

Singapore scraped a last minute 2-1 win over Myanmar on Dec. 5 and will
advance to the semi-finals if they draw with Vietnam at the 40,000
capacity My Dinh National Stadium.

"Singapore showed good
mental toughness to defeat Myanmar in the last two minutes on Sunday.
However, we won't miss our chances to score the goals we need to defeat
them," said Vietnam's coach Henrique Calisto.

"We were
unable to score in our game against the Philippines, but I'm proud of my
players because they fought hard during the match. They have worked
hard since they helped Vietnam win the AFF Cup two years ago," he told a
press conference.

Singapore's coach Radojko Avramovic said the match with Vietnam has been highly anticipated between the two sets of fans.

"It will be an intriguing match (between Vietnam and Singapore) for
spectators, not for coaches. I think the match will be exciting, but
very tough for us," Avramovic said.

Myanmar meet the
Philippines at Nam Dinh's Thien Truong Stadium, 90km south of Hanoi,
while Vietnam play Singapore in Hanoi, both at 7pm on Dec. 8.

Philippines coach Simon McMenemy said he had told his players to give 100 percent in the upcoming game./.

Viet Nam face early Cup exit

All or nothing: Viet Nam's team coach Henrique Calisto and his squad will play a do-or-die encounter against Singapore in their last match in Group B of the AFF-Suzuki Cup tomorrow. — VNS Photo Quang Thang

HA NOI — Viet Nam's football team will meet Singapore in a make-or-break match in Group B of the ASEAN Football Championship AFF-Suzuki Cup tomorrow.

The hosts, who lost 2-0 to the Philippines on Sunday, must win to guarantee a spot in the semi-finals.

The Philippines, who lead the group with four points, need only a draw with Myanmar to qualify for the last four.

Singapore scraped a last minute 2-1 win over Myanmar on Sunday and will advance to the semi-finals if they draw with Viet Nam at the 40,000 capacity My Dinh National Stadium.

"Singapore showed good mental toughness to defeat Myanmar in the last two minutes on Sunday. However, we won't miss our chances to score the goals we need to defeat them," said Viet Nam's coach Henrique Calisto.

"We were unable to score in our game against the Philippines, but I'm proud of my players because they fought hard during the match. They have worked hard since they helped Viet Nam win the AFF Cup two years ago," he told a press conference.

Singapore's coach Radojko Avramovic said the match with Viet Nam has been highly anticipated between the two sets of fans.

"It will be an intriguing match (between Viet Nam and Singapore) for spectators, not for coaches. I think the match will be exciting, but very tough for us," Avramovic said.

Myanmar meet the Philippines at Nam Dinh's Thien Truong Stadium, 90km south of Ha Noi, while Viet Nam play Singapore in Ha Noi, both at 7pm tomorrow.

Philippines coach Simon McMenemy said he had told his players to give 100 per cent in tomorrow's game. — VNS

Monday, December 6, 2010

Viet Nam to meet Singapore in make-or-break game

HA NOI – Viet Nam's football team will meet Singapore in a make-or-break match in Group B of the ASEAN Football Championship AFF-Suzuki Cup tomorrow.

The hosts, who lost 2-0 to the Philippines on Sunday, must win to guarantee a spot in the semi-finals.

The Philippines, who lead the group with four points, need only a draw with Myanmar to qualify for the last four.

Singapore scraped a last minute 2-1 win over Myanmar on Sunday and will advance to the semi-finals if they draw with Viet Nam at the 40,000 capacity My Dinh National Stadium.

"Singapore showed good mental toughness to defeat Myanmar in the last two minutes on Sunday. However, we won't miss our chances to score the goals we need to defeat them," said Viet Nam's coach Henrique Calisto.

Singapore's coach Radojko Avramovic said the match with Viet Nam has been highly anticipated between the two sets of fans.

"It will be an intriguing match (between Viet Nam and Singapore) for spectators, not for coaches. I think the match will be exciting, but very tough for us," Avramovic said.

Myanmar meet the Philippines at Nam Dinh's Thien Truong Stadium, 90km south of Ha Noi, while Viet Nam play Singapore in Ha Noi, both at 7pm tomorrow.

Philippines coach Simon McMenemy said he had told his players to give 100 per cent in tomorrow's game. – VNS

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Singapore edge Myanmar 2-1

Bin Isahak (red) of Singapore are fighting for the ball with Aung Win of Myanmar

Photo: Tuoi Tre

The three-time champion Singapore came from behind to narrowly win the underdog Myanmar 2-1 in the group B’s second match-day today at the Southeast Asian Football Championship, Suzuki Cup, in Hanoi.

The opening goal was written for defender Lwin Khin Maung of Myanmar in the 13 minute after a fast counterattack.

With the Myanmarese defence showing much better discipline after losing 7-1 to hosts Vietnam in the opener, the Singaporeans were reduced to shooting from distance but none was successfully converted into goal during the first half.

In the second phase, Singapore piled up more pressure, playing with sometimes three strikers.

In the 62nd minute, forward Aleksander Duric leveled it 1-1 following an attack launched from the right flank.

And the last-gasp goal by Agu Cashmir in the 90th minute gave Singapore the first win and also helped relive their hope to advance at the tournament.

Both sides produced a lackluster performance with the struggle for the ball mainly taking place in the midfield where both troops were disposed heavily.

In the opening matchday on Thursday, Singapore tied 1-1 with the Philippines while hosts and defending champions Vietnam thrashed Myanmar 7-1.

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Pianists to compete at Chopin tourney in Singapore

Eight young Vietnamese pianists will be competing against 140 others at
the First International Chopin Piano tournament from Dec.1-5 in
Singapore .

The competition, which commemorates
the 200th anniversary of Chopin's birth, is being organised by the
Chopin Society ( Singapore ) and the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts.

The Vietnamese pianists, who are aged between 10 to 16, will be competing in four of five categories.

Do Hoang Linh Chi, 13, and Hoang Ho Thu, 15, have a lot of experience
of international competition, said Ta Quang Dong, a lecturer at the
Vietnam National Academy of Music, who will be accompanying the
competitors.

"The contestants can decide for
themselves which Chopin pieces they wish to play. The Hanoi
International Piano Contest that was held last September helped the
contestants enrich their Chopin repertoire," Dong said.

"The competition is being organised for the first time. It is prestigious though because of the calibre judges."

The judging panel consists of Gabriel Kwok, who has been head of
Keyboard Studies at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts since
1989; Francesco Nicolosi, who is one of the most distinguished pianists
of the Italian tradition; Snezana Panovska, a highly acclaimed piano
professor, who stems from the Republic of Macedonia; Wojciech Switata, a
professor at the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice; and
Warren Thompson, head of the School of Extension Studies at Sydney
Conservatorium./.

Monday, November 29, 2010

Myanmar, Singapore prepare for AFF Cup

Myanmar men's football team had their first training session in Ha Noi yesterday, four days before playing against host Viet Nam in the ASEAN Football Championship.

As scheduled, Myanmar meet Viet Nam in the opening match in group B, which also includes Singapore and the Philippines, at My Dinh National Stadium on Thursday.

"We want to familiarise ourselves with the weather in Ha Noi. That's the reason we came here earlier," said the team coach, Tin Myint Aung.

"I cannot predict the match result between Viet Nam and Myanmar. We have been disqualified from group competition many times and we'll try out best to advance to the semi-final," he added.

Three-time champion Singapore, an archrival of Viet Nam, also arrived in Ha Noi yesterday.

Viet Nam and Indonesia will co-host the championship, known as the AFF-Suzuki Cup, on December 1-29.

Amateurs golfers compete in Ho Guom Open tournament

Nguyen Viet Canh finished first in division A (handicap 0-16) of the Ho Guom Golf Open tournament at Tam Dao course yesterday.

He carded in 68 to win over Nguyen Huy Tien after a tense 18-hole competition yesterday.

In division B, (handicap 17-28) Hoang Quan scored a net 65 to stand on the victory podium, while Nguyen Phuc Anh took the division C (Callaway) title with 73.

The event drew 145 men and women amateurs competing in stroke play.

At the award ceremony yesterday, the organisers also presented awards to the best gross, best net, longest drive, nearest to the pin and nearest to the line. — VNS

Friday, November 5, 2010

Vietnam hold 1-1 draw with Singapore at Sonha Cup

HCMC – The Vietnamese national squad tied 1-1 with Singapore in the second game of the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) Sonha Cup on Thursday at My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi while South Korea U23 also did the same with North Korea, securing the top spot in the four-team tournament in the earlier game.

The Vietnamese side began the game with a changed lineup after a 0-2 loss to South Korea U23 in their opener. Midfielder Phan Van Tai Em and defender Huynh Quang Thanh made his debut at the tournament, replacing midfielder Le Tan Tai defender Dang Van Phong from the beginning. Defender Le Phuoc Tu and midfielder Pham Thanh Luong also played in the first minutes.

Though the game was only a friendly, the competition between hosts Vietnam and archrivals Singapore is always fiercely competitive, moreover, the tournament is considered the final test for both Vietnam and Singapore before the Southeast Asian championship/AFF Suzuki Cup 2010, which will be held in Vietnam and Indonesia from December 1 to 29.

The chief coach of the national football team Coach Henrique Calisto and his squad made their final preparations to defend the AFF-Suzuki Cup where Vietnam have been drawn in Group B with Singapore, the Philippines and Myanmar.

Under heavy pressure from local fans, hosts Vietnam put their rivals under a lot of pressure, while the Singaporean squad, with height advantage, looked composed and confident throughout and caused the home team problems with their rare counter attacks.

Although the Vietnamese players had the most possession over the first minutes and managed to create dozens of chances, the Singaporean side defense resiliently held out to keep a clean sheet.

Singapore surprisingly took an advance in a rare attack when Shi Jiayi scored for his team in the 25th minute after receiving the ball from Duric in the penalty box.

In the second half, coach Henrique Calisto made some key changes when Nguyen Huy Hoang and Le Sy Manh made their debut, replacing Le Tan Tai and Nguyen Minh Phuong in the first minutes of the second half. Nguyen Trong Hoang replaced Pham Thanh Luong in the 58th minute.

Although the Vietnamese players had the most possession over the second half and managed to create dozens of chances, however, the spectators waiting for 30 minutes into the second half to celebrate the hosts’ leveling when Phan Van Tai Em netted for his team with a comfortable kick after receiving the ball from midfielder Le Sy Manh in the penalty box.

In the earlier game on Thursday, North Korea tied 1-1 with South Korea U23. Ri Myong Jun scored for the North Korean side just three minutes into the game while Jung Woo Young equalized for South Korea in the 37th minute with a penalty kick.

With the draw, North Korea and South Korea U23 earned four points each but the South Korean side secured the top spot thanks to the goal difference. Both Vietnam and the Singapore’s hopes of winning the cup were faded when they secured just one each from two games.

The champions will be decided on Saturday when South Korea U23 will play Singapore at 5:00 p.m. and Vietnam take on North Korea at 7:00 p.m. in the final games.

The national football teams from Singapore, North Korea and hosts Vietnam together with the U23 team of South Korea are competing in the annual tournament. The four teams are playing in a round-robin tournament with the team that gets the most points being declared the championship. The tournament is taking place from Tuesday to Saturday in Hanoi.

VN face tough task after drawing with Singapore

HA NOI — Viet Nam and Singapore earned their first points at the Viet Nam Football Federation's SONHA Cup yesterday after the two teams drew 1-1 at My Dinh Stadium in Ha Noi.

The host team followed a new game plan that differed significantly to their strategy against South Korea two days ago, when Viet Nam suffered a 2-0 defeat.

This time, the host team set the pace and control the ball most of the time, despite only being able to score once from a corner kick in the second half of the match.

Singapore were on the defensive but managed to score first, at the 26th minute.

The goal was thanks to a combination play between two imported players. Aleksandar Duric, a former Bosnia and Herzegovina citizen, took the ball to the box before passing it to Chinese-born Shi Jiayi, who shot the ball straight into the net.

Vietnamese goalkeeper Duong Hong Son got his fingers to the ball, but was unable to stop the powerful shot from close range.

The goal did not rally the Vietnamese players to immediately lift their game, with several good opportunities to equalise carelessly missed.

The situation for the host team seemed to get worse when the side lost striker Nguyen Viet Thang at the 31st minute due to an injury.

The second saw Viet Nam continue its attack, threatening Singapore's goal but unable to score.

Captain Phan Van Tai Em, replaced striker Sy Manh and halfback Nguyen Vu Phong helped rally the team intensify their assaults.

Tai Em could level the score for Viet Nam at the 76th minute after a corner kick. Tai Em took the ball after it bounced out of a chaotic penalty area, converting with a quick strike into the net.

For his efforts, Tai Em won the US$1,000 bonus from the tournament's sponsors for the first Vietnamese player to score.

Viet Nam and Singapore will face each other again at the coming Southeast Asian Football Federation Cup in December.

Earlier in the SONHA Cup, a clash between North Korea and South Korea also resulted in a 1-1 draw.

After two matches, South Korea rank on the top of the table with four points, North Korea follow with four points as well, losing out to South Korea on goal difference. Singapore and Viet Nam are third and fourth, respectively.

Viet Nam still have a chance to win the cup but only if they can score plenty of goals against North Korea who are considered the strongest defensive team of the tournament while South Korea lose to Singapore in the other game. — VNS

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Singapore billionaire Lim confirms Liverpool interest

Singaporean billionaire Peter Lim

Photo: Reuters

Singapore billionaire Peter Lim, who failed in an earlier bid to buy Liverpool FC, is prepared to improve his offer for the Premier League club, his spokeswoman said on Tuesday, confirming British media reports.

"Peter has written a letter to the Liverpool board... he is prepared to make an improved offer," she told Reuters.

She added that Lim, who made his fortune from stock broking, was the unnamed Asian party who had earlier made an offer for the English soccer club worth US$476.5 million but lost out to a similar-sized bid from US-based New England Sports Ventures, the owner of the Boston Red Sox baseball team.

The beleaguered Merseyside club, whose protracted sale has dominated headlines since they were put on the market in April, will attend the High Court in London on Tuesday when chairman Martin Broughton's power to agree to the sale of the club will be examined.

Much-criticized American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett, who stand to lose some $223 million if the deal goes through, will argue that Broughton does not have such power, potentially leaving the club without a buyer and reigniting the danger of administration and a nine-point penalty in the league.

According to Forbes magazine, Lim is Singapore's eighth richest man with a fortune estimated at $1.6 billion. He is a large shareholder in Singapore-listed Wilmar, the world's largest palm oil firm, and Singapore fashion retailer FJ Benjamin.

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Singapore hold hosts Vietnam to a draw

Singapore held hosts Vietnam to a goalless draw on Thursday at the four-team invitational tournament Eximbank Cup to celebrate the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi.

Both sides staged attacking formation to sharpen their defensive and scoring skills but the ball was mainly competed at the middle of the field, with almost no clear chances created.

At the 31st minute of the match, Singapore’s coach Radojko Avramovic was discharged from his coaching area for arguing with referee.

Ten minutes before the end of the match, midfielder Bui Van Hieu of Vietnam was given a second yellow card and had to leave the field. However, the visitors have failed to take their advantage to convert a goal.

With the result, Vietnam -- who beat Malaysia 2-1 in the opening round on Tuesday -- is now ranking second on the table with four points after Iran on better goal difference.

Singapore, drawing 1-1 with Iran in the first round, follow with two points and Malaysia at the bottom after two losses.

In the last round on Saturday, Vietnam will encounter Iran and Singapore to take on Malaysia.

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Singapore hold hosts Vietnam to a draw

Singapore held hosts Vietnam to a goalless draw on Thursday at the four-team invitational tournament Eximbank Cup to celebrate the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi.

Both sides staged attacking formation to sharpen their defensive and scoring skills but the ball was mainly competed at the middle of the field, with almost no clear chances created.

At the 31st minute of the match, Singapore’s coach Radojko Avramovic was discharged from his coaching area for arguing with referee.

With the result, Vietnam -- who beat Malaysia 2-1 in the opening round on Tuesday -- is now ranking second on the table with four points after Iran on better goal difference.

Singapore, drawing 1-1 with Iran in the first round, follow with two points and Malaysia at the bottom after two losses.

In the last round on Saturday, Vietnam will encounter Iran and Singapore to take on Malaysia.

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Webber braces for Singapore street fight

Red Bull Formula One driver Mark Webber of Australia leads the race in front of team mate Sebastian Vettel of Germany at the start of the Monaco F1 Grand Prix May 16, 2010

Photo: Reuters

Mark Webber has yet to finish a Singapore Grand Prix but the Formula One championship leader can expect to be third time lucky this weekend as the title battle moves up a gear.

The Red Bull driver holds a five-point advantage over McLaren's Lewis Hamilton with five races remaining and five drivers still very much in the hunt.

"We should be closer to the front than we were in Singapore last year, as the car has changed a lot," said Webber, winner of four races this season. "We're very confident we'll go there and go well."

Hamilton, the 2008 champion, has a good record at the floodlit Marina Bay circuit and won the night race last season from pole position.

Two retirements in the Briton's last three races, sandwiched around a victory in Belgium, and the Red Bull's speed around the tight and twistier circuits have given Webber grounds for optimism.

"Singapore should suit us if Monaco is anything to go by," said the Australian, who won around that street circuit in May as well as in Hungary.

"Hamilton destroyed us in Monaco and Budapest last year and this year we gave them a touch-up at both those races," he added.

"We've seen performance move around a little bit... not much... against the form card but on paper, the next few circuits look like they should be good for us."

Webber also enjoys a 24-point advantage over his quick-but-erratic team mate Sebastian Vettel but is not expecting any favors from the German, who is refusing to give up his own title ambitions.

"Help from Vettel? It depends on the team," the Australian added. "Rest assured, I have not asked for anything.”

“It's the same at McLaren."

Hamilton’s setback

Hamilton failed to complete a lap at the last grand prix in Monza, the Briton retiring after banging wheels with Felipe Massa's Ferrari in a rash attempt to overtake the Brazilian for third place.

McLaren backed their man to bounce back from that mistake and the 25-year-old does not plan to change his aggressive approach to racing.

"I've had two non-finishes and one win in the last three races... and, while that's not bad, it does mean that I lost points to some of the other drivers in the hunt for the title." the Briton said. "Those results aren't enough to get me the title, I'll keep pushing.”

“I'll take each race as it comes but I'll also be making sure I get to the finish of the next five races... that's more important than anything.

“I go to Singapore to win."

Monza proved to be a pivotal race for Fernando Alonso and Ferrari, the Spaniard's victory at the team's home circuit dragged the two-time world champion back into the mix for a third crown as he continues a late-season surge.

"Despite failing to score in Belgium, where the accident on the first lap weighed heavily like a stone, Ferrari and I have scored more points than anyone else in these last four races," the 29-year-old said.

"That makes us even more confident and the fact these results came on tracks with very different characteristics to one another confirms for me that our car is pretty versatile."

Alonso, 21 points adrift of Webber in third, has a good record in Singapore, winning controversially for Renault in 2008 when Nelson Piquet deliberately crashed to give him a strategic advantage, before a third-place finish last year.

Webber braces for Singapore street fight