POWER: Quảng Ninh's Nguyễn Hải Huy shoots during a 4-1 win over Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng FC in the AFC Cup's Group G match yesterday in Phnom Penh. Photo the-afc.com
HÀ NỘI — Than Quảng Ninh finally found their first win at the Asian Football Confederation Cup yesterday in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
The Vietnamese representative trounced hosts Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng FC 4-1 in Group G. The win also pushed them from bottom position to second with four points.
Pre-match jitters proved to be unfounded, as the unfamiliar artificial grass pitch did not pose a challenge for Quảng Ninh.
Quảng Ninh tried to establish their dominance over Svay Rieng, who were considered a weaker team in this clash.
However it was the hosts who had the best chance by Japanese midfielder Daisuke Kobayashi in the 33rd minute as he missed a ball just three metres in front of goalkeeper Huỳnh Tấn Linh.
Earlier, midfielder Nen Sothearoth wasted his effort from outside the box as he failed to finish Thiago Santos’ pass in the third minute and Jonathan Campbell headed wide from inside the box.
Quảng Ninh also made great efforts, but their attempts could not find the hosts’ net until the 36th minute.
The team’s key midfielder Nguyễn Hải Huy after several misses pushed his team ahead as he managed a ball from striker Mạc Hồng Quân and ran into the box before sending it home past at least three defenders and keeper Oum Outdom.
Quảng Ninh, however, could not defend their net in the first half as the hosts secured the equaliser in the last minute by Jean Befolo Mbarga after his solo performance passing Quảng Ninh defenders and rounding off keeper Linh for a finish.
In the second half, Quảng Ninh totally took control.
They made it 2-1 at the 57th mark when midfielder Neven Lastro headed in a corner from Giang Trần Quách Tân. He faced no resistance from the hosts’ defenders and goalkeeper.
Twenty minutes later Jamaican Jeremie Lynch scored Quảng Ninh’s third goal when he finished off Tân’s pass from inside the area.
‘V.League’s king of assisting’ Nghiêm Xuân Tú marked his presence with a long-pass from the right wing that eliminated all Svay Rieng defenders and reached Đào Nhật Minh who put Quảng Ninh up 4-1 four minutes to the end.
Svay Rieng showed their effort with attempts of Santos and Soeuy Visal but could not change the final result.
In the next fixture, the two sides will meet again in Quảng Ninh Province’s Cẩm Phả Stadium on April 14.
In another match of the group, Ceres Negros of the Philippines beat Bali United of Indonesia 4-0 on their home turf of Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila to maintain their top position. They will also meet on April 14 at Bali’s home of Kapten I Wayan Dipta Stadium. — VNS
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