Vietnam 3-2 Malaysia (2008 AFF Suzuki Cup)

08/12/2008 (Thailand) Vietnam 3-2 Malaysia (2008 AFF Suzuki Cup)

Surakul Stadium, Phuket

Referee: Pandian Palaniyandi (Singapore)

Phạm Thành Lương 16' Nguyễn Vũ Phong 72', 86' Putra 20', 85' 

Nhan Dan Online - Vu Phong double gives Vietnam important victory over Malaysia

Substitute Vu Phong’ s double in the second half gave Vietnam a very important victory over Malaysia in a thrilling attractive game of Group B at the Surakul stadium tonight. 

Straight after the start, Vietnam with their confidence, applied pressure on Malaysia with various attacks but Viet Thang, Cong Vinh wasted the chances in the fourth, sixth and seventh minutes. 

Malaysia responded with contra-attacks however they failed to score. In the 16th minute Thanh Luong’s superb long-range shot put Vienam in front.

Trying to come back from one down, Malaysia began to intensify their attacks and their efforts paid off. Indra Putra levelled the score in the 20th minute from his fine free kick.

Then Malaysia continued to produce attack after attack, making shots into Vietnam’s goal in 33rd, 36th and 38th minutes but goalkeeper Hong Son’s excellent saves gave them no chance.

In the last minutes of the first half Vietnam pushed foward more, providing Malaysia defence with more anxious moments.Viet Cuong powerful strike in the 45th minute was stopped by goalkeeper Elias’s fingers. 

Vietnam made a flurry of changes in the second half and that did more to change the result. 

Substitute Vu Phong was able to make an impact and his wonderful shot gave Vietnam the lead again in the 72nd minute. 

Then it was Malaysia turn to attack for equalising, creating a lot of chances to score, but all shots were saved or caught by goalkeeper Hong Son. 

In the 83rd minute Indra Putra scored the equaliser for Malaysia again. 

Two minutes later Vu Phong made a super night for the Vietnamese fans when he fired the winner from a very long range, becoming the hero of the match. 

This is the first but crucial win for Vietnam. 

It paved the way for Vietnam to book their place in the semi-finals of the AFF Suzuki Cup 2008. 

Vietnam will play against Laos in their next game on December 10. 

Later in another match, Thaland easily crushed Laos 6-0. 

Vietnam's coach H. Calisto: "It was a very difficult game for Vietnam due to some incomprehensible mistakes by the referees but I am glad that my players kept calm and expressed their strong determination. Vietnam deserved to win this crucial game." 

Malaysia's coach B. Sathianathan: "All three goals were the results of keeper's mistakes. He is the best goalkeeper we have in the country. But today, it was his mistakes that cost us the match. After this loss, there's no other way that we have to defeat Thailand in the last round match."

 

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