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| Vietnamese players celebrate Huy Hung’s goal in the first leg of the AFF Suzuki Cup final in Malaysia. VNA/VNS Photo Hoang Linh |
Viet Nam News
Football
HA NOI – Viet Nam blew a 2-0 lead in the first leg of their AFF Cup against Malaysia but will return home for the second leg on Saturday having left the Bukit Jalil Stadium in Kuala Lumpur with a 2-2 scoreline.
Viet Nam had raced into the lead with two goals in the first 25 minutes.
“Today, Viet Nam’s youngsters played good football and we were tough. The draw gives an advantage for the second leg in Ha Noi,” said captain Que Ngoc Hai after the match.
“I want the players to keep up their enthusiasm and desire to win in the second leg. On behalf of the Viet Nam team, I want to thank the Vietnamese fans very much. We promise to give them the result they deserve,” Hai added.
With around 90,000 fans in the stadium, the hosts looked dangerous from the get-go, and defender Tran Dinh Trong was forced into evasive action to prevent them from opening the scoring.
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| Viet Nam looked solid in the first leg of the AFF Suzuki Cup final at the Bukit Jalil Stadium in Kuala Lumpur. VNA/VNS Photo Hoang Linh |
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| Vietnamese fans on Nguyen Hue Street in HCM City. VNA/VNS Photo Xuan Du |
Just five minutes in, Viet Nam had their first chance when midfielder Doan Van Hau headed a corner from Nguyen Quang Hai against the crossbar, giving Malaysia a warning of what was to come.
In the 22nd minute, midfielder Phan Van Duc played Nguyen Huy Hung in to score the opening goal for Viet Nam.
Just three minutes later, Pham Duc Huy scored a screamer from outside the box to double the away side’s lead.
Malaysia’s goalkeeper Farizal Marlias came under increasing pressure, but managed to keep his team in the game.
The hosts fought back strongly and their efforts paid off with a goal from Shahrul Saad in the 36th mminute.
With the first half drawing to an end, striker Ha Duc Chinh had a glorious opportunity to put the match to bed after receiving a pass from Hai but skewed his effort, and Malaysia nearly grabbed an equaliser before the interval only for goalie Dang Van Lam to deny Zaquan Adha.
After the break Viet Nam continued to dominate the game. However, head coach Park Hang-seo decided to change his attacking line, replacing Chinh for Nguyen Tien Linh.
Linh almost immediately found himself in a goalscoring position, but the Becamex Binh Duong player was unable to convert the chance.
Following a counter attack, Vietnamese midfielder Hau received a controversial yellow card.
The hosts scored their equaliser in the 60th minute, with Safawi Rasid curling in a free kick that wrong-footed Lam.
The game swung back and forth in the closing minutes, and Lam was forced to scramble away a free kick in the dying seconds
Th final return leg will take place at the My Dinh National Stadium in Ha Noi on Saturday with a sea of Vietnamese fans.
Viet Nam team will be awarded VND1 billion (US$43,500) from sponsor VinaPhone. Thanks to the result, while Hung, who scored the first goal, will get $43,500 from sponsor Eurowindow.
It’s been 10 years since Viet Nam won the AFF Cup. – VNS
OVietnam