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| Referee Chaiya Alee Mahapab of Thailand (3rd L) stops the game as Vietnam's Nguyen Minh Chau (L), Phan Van Tai Em (2nd L), Le Phuoc Tu (3rd R), Nguyen Vu Phong (2nd R) celebrate their victory near Singapore's Agu Casmir (C) and Mohamad Shahril Bin Ishak (R) after their qualifying round match at the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup 2010 soccer tournament at My Dinh Stadium in Hanoi on Wednesday - Photo: Reuters |
HCMC – Defending champions Vietnam reached the semifinals at the ASEAN Football Federation Cup/AFF Suzuki Cup 2010, after defeating their archrivals Singapore 1-0 in their final game of the group stage at Hanoi’s My Dinh National Stadium on Wednesday while the Philippines qualified for the semifinals for the first time after drawing goalless with Myanmar at Thien Truong Stadium.
With only one goal from midfielder Nguyen Vu Phong in the 31st minute, Vietnam sent the three-time champions packing right in the group stage of the Southeast Asian championship.
Prior to the game, the Philippines and Singapore have four points each but the Philippines topped the standings of group B thanks to the goal difference. Third-placed Vietnam secured three points from one win and one loss while Myanmar exited from the tournament with two losses. But Vietnam now win the top place of the group.
The Vietnamese side needed a win to ensure their progress to the next round of the tournament while the Lions just needed a draw to keep their hope of reaching the next round alive.
Head coach Henrique Calisto said he believed Vietnam would beat Singapore in the make-or-break game. The Portuguese man said he was pleased with his players from their performance in the regional tournament even though local spectators had raised doubts about the team’s strength.
Part of Calisto’s confidence stems from the fact that Vietnam had held the three-time champions to a 1-1 draw in the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) Sonha Cup at the My Dinh Stadium earlier last month.
At the pre-match press conference, Singapore national coach Radojko Avramovic also expressed his strong winning determination on the threshold of the crucial clash between the two sides.
Vietnamese coach Henrique Calisto made some changes in their lineup with goalkeeper Bui Tan Truong, midfielder Nguyen Trong Hoang and defender Doan Viet Cuong coming in from the beginning. Meanwhile, midfielder Le Tan Tai did not even make the list due to an injury.
Backed by the enthusiastic support from about 40,000 spectators, Vietnam were on the attack from the start of the game in search for a goal and coach Calisto’s players dominated the ball possession in the first half while Singapore relied on rare counter attacks.
The home side missed a series of chances, the best in the first minutes when Nguyen Trong Hoang’s kick was saved by Singaporean goalkeeper Hassan Bin Abd Sunny from close range in minute five, midfielder Pham Thanh Luong’s kick over the goalpost in minute 13.
The Lions also created some scoring chances in the half but their players also lost all the chances.
The football-crazy local fans waited for 31 minutes into the game to celebrate the hosts’ scoring when Nguyen Vu Phong opened the score with superb kick after receiving the ball from midfielder Nguyen Thanh Luong in the penalty box.
After the break, the Lions increased their pressure in search for an equalizer. Singaporean forwards always troubled goalkeeper Bui Tan Truong and Vietnamese defenders.
Vietnamese players took on the defensive tactic and relied on counter attacks with an aim to protect the score. However, the Vietnamese forwarders also created some scoring chances and their defense resiliently held out to keep a clean sheet.
But difficulties came in the 63rd minute when midfielder Nguyen Trong Hoang was sent off with a second yellow card. Ever since, many scoring chances came for the visitors but the Singaporean players failed to convert any opportunities in the remaining time.
In the day’s other match, the Philippines and Myanmar shared the point after a goalless draw. The Philippines also qualified for the semi-finals as a Group B’s runners-up with five points.
Vietnam will meet Group A runners-up Malaysia in the semifinal first leg next Wednesday in Hanoi’s My Dinh Stadium and second leg next Saturday in Malaysia.
Group A leaders Indonesia will play Group B runners-up Philippines in the semifinal first leg next Thursday and second leg next Sunday on a home and away basis.
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