Vietnam 2-0 UAE (2007 AFC Asian Cup - Group B)

 

08/07/2007 (Vietnam) Vietnam 2-0 UAE (2007 AFC Asian Cup - Group B)

Vietnam: Duong Hong Son, Phung Van Nhien, Nguyen Huy Hoang, Vu Nhu Thanh, Huynh Quang Thanh, Nguyen Vu Phong, Phan Van Tai Em, Nguyen Minh Phuong (Nguyen Minh Chuyen – 78’), Le Tan Tai, Le Cong Vinh (Huynh Phuc Hiep – 90’)and Phan Thanh Binh (Nguyen Anh Duc - 84’); 

UAE: Majed Nasser, Rashid Abdulrahman, Haydar Alo-Ali, Yousef Jaber, Bashir Saeed, Abdulsalam Juma, Ahmed Mubarek (Ahmed Mohamed - 64’), Hilal Saeed, F Khalil, Ismail Matar and Mohamed Saeed (Amir Mubarak – 81’) 

Vietnam started their AFC Asian Cup campaign with a thrilling 2-0 victory over the United Arab Emirates (UAE) through second half goals by Huynh Quang Thanh and Le Cong Vinh. Quang Thanh, who returned to the team after missing the team’s final friendly against Bahrain, broke the deadlock for the hosts after the hour mark. 

The UAE’s Faisal Khalil came closest to scoring but his finish to the far corner in the first half was tipped away by Vietnamese goalie Duong Hong Son. 

Talking at a post-match conference, Vietnam coach Alfred Riedl said: “It was an exciting match. I think the team who score first would be the winners. We scored two goals and deserved to win.” 

The Vietnamese team played a fantastic game just before President Nguyen Minh Triet and AFC President Mohammed Bin Hamman also were seen at the My Dinh stadium, especially in the second half after both sides failed to score in the first half. 

The game began at a frantic pace in a fantastic atmosphere created by a nearly full crowd at the My Dinh national stadium. 

Vietnam’s chance went to Phan Thanh Binh, who headed a good freekick from Quang Thanh just wide. 

At the other end Ismaeil Matar curled a free-kick from the edge of the area just wide of the post. 

Duong Hong Son made a full length diving save after 30 minutes to keep the score level after Khalil rounded Huy Hoang and broke into the area, looking to find the far bottom corner with a low shot. 

After the break, the home side started their game in an aggressive fashion. Nguyen Vu Phong forced a diving save from UAE goalkeeper Majed Naser with a stinging low shot from the edge of the area. 

The goalie was then quick to comfortably save Thanh Binh’s follow-up shot. The UAE replied almost immediately with Basheer Saeed powering a freekick, which was saved by Hong Son. 

Vietnam delighted the home crowd four minutes after the hour mark as Quang Thanh powered on captain Nguyen Minh Phuong’s chipped pass into the area, which gave a Majed Naser no chance. 

Explaining the reason of his side’s defeat to the co-hosts afterward, Bruno Metsu said his team, after going 1-0 down, wanted to come back immediately, so they played open, giving the hosts space and time to play. 

The co-hosts side almost doubled the lead a minute later as Naser parried Thanh Binh’s powerful close range strike and Minh Phuong scooped the rebound over the bar. 

The crucial second goal came 10 minutes later as Cong Vinh beat the UAE’s offside trap to lob Vu Phong’s through ball over the advancing Naser from the edge of the area. 

The victory put Vietnam on top of Group B for at least one day, just before champions Japan and Qatar play each other on July 9.

Ngoc Tuan Source: Nhan Dan

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