Vietnamese coach Henrique Calisto has not lost hope despite his team’s 2-0 defeat to Malaysia in the first-leg semifinal of the Suzuki Cup Wednesday.
He said in Kuala Lumpur the team did not play their normal game and were unable to control the midfield, he told the media after the loss.
Do you think Vietnam can advance after the 2-0 defeat?
[A score of] 2-1 or 1-0 would have reflected the true situation. If we had scored, it would be much easier. It is very difficult now because Vietnam have to score three goals or more [in the second-leg match at My Dinh Stadium] to eliminate Malaysia.
If they can score two goals against us, we can score two goals in Hanoi. We must believe, but it will not be easy. If my key players recover from injuries, I will play them in the second leg.
What do you think about the referee?
He sometimes failed to control the game well. But we don’t blame him for our defeat. We made some crucial mistakes and gave away two goals. This is a game. So, it is normal for goalkeepers to make mistakes. This is life.
Were you surprised by Malaysia’s performance?
No. They were well organized and have good players.
Coach Mai Duc Chung:Vietnam will advance Vietnam played very well in the first half. Midfielders Minh Phuong, Thanh Luong, and Vu Phong controlled the ball skillfully and made precise passes. Though we had more scoring opportunities, I regret we could not find a goal. Malaysia were lukewarm and did not create many chances. If we could have controlled the match better in the second half, we could have won. However, the turning point of the match was the crucial error by goalkeeper Tan Truong. He did not remain focused and allowed Safee's header to go through his hands into the goal. But that is life. After that, the hosts played long balls to take full advantage of the speed and strength of forwards Safid and Safee. But I do believe that Vietnam can advance into the finals because we play the second leg at the My Dinh stadium where we trounced Myanmar 7-1. That will be a very big advantage. |
