BANGKOK (23 April 2012) – Vietnam emerged winners of Group A and in the process have likely avoided a premature battle with hosts Thailand in the crossover semifinals of the AFF Futsal Championship. The Vietnamese defeated the Malaysians, who had a player red-carded, 7-2 in an intense last group tie at the Bangkok Thonburi Stadium today.
“We have reached our initial target which is to make the semifinal,” said Sergio Gargelli, the chief coach of Vietnam.
Vietnam have completed their preliminary fixtures without dropping a point but Malaysia who have finished second will probably have to face the mighty Thai side in the semifinals on Wednesday.
Thailand and Indonesia will face each other in a later match today to determine the final positions in Group B.
In today’s match, Vietnam started strongly and were two goals up after six minutes thanks to strikes from Nguyen Hoang Giang and Pham Thanh Dat. The Malaysians levelled the score by the 15th minute when Ahmad Fawzul Hadzir and Muhammad Shamsul Akmar got their shots in.
Joy was short lived as Vietnam charged back in the 16th minute to regain the lead through Thanh Dat. Vietnam never looked back. Nguyen Bao Quan made it 4-2 at the break.
The battle increased in pace and intensity as both sides fought furiously to get the goals. But with about six minutes remaining, Ahmad Fawzul picked up a second booking and was sent off. Vietnam took advantage and scored through Luu Quynh Toan a minute later. They added two more goals (Nguyen Hoang Gia in the 37th and Nguyen Trong Thien in the 38 th minute) after that to seal a well-earned victory over the Malaysians.
In an earlier tie today, Cambodia defeated the Philippines 9-5 in their last Group A match today to complete their fixtures with at least one victory in the bag. For Cambodia, the win was also sweet as it propelled them from the last spot in the standings up to third.
The Philippines, Myanmar and Cambodia all have three points each from one victory.
PIX: Vietnam coach Sergio Gargelli giving instruction
AFF FUTSAL CHAMPIONSHIP 2012 FIXTURES and RESULTS
| Date | Match
No. |
Group | Match | Time | Venue | SCORE | |
| 19-
Apr-12 |
1
2 3 4 |
A
A B B |
Cambodia vs Malaysia
Myanmar vs Philippines Timor Leste vs Indonesia Laos vs Brunei DS |
1130
1400 1630 1900 |
Bangkok Thonburi Stadium | 0 – 8
4 – 5 1 – 16 8 – 6 |
|
| 20-
Apr-12 |
5
6 7 8 |
A
A B B |
Philippines vs Vietnam
Myanmar vs Cambodia Brunei DS vs Thailand Laos vs Timor Leste |
1130
1400 1700 1930 |
Bangkok Thonburi Stadium | 1 – 6
7 – 6 0 – 22 4 – 3 |
|
| 21-
Apr-12 |
9
10 11 12 |
A
B A B |
Vietnam vs Myanmar
Thailand vs Laos Malaysia vs Philippines Indonesia vs Brunei DS |
1130
1400 1630 1900 |
Bangkok Thonburi Stadium | 3 – 0
26 – 2 4 – 1 9 – 2 |
|
| 22-
Apr-12 |
13
14 15 16 |
A
B A B |
Myanmar vs Malaysia
Timor Leste vs Thailand Cambodia vs Vietnam Laos vs Indonesia |
1130
1400 1630 1900 |
Bangkok Thonburi Stadium | 0 – 5
1 – 19 1 – 4 2 – 12 |
|
| 23-
Apr-12 |
17
18 19 20 |
A
A B B |
Philippines vs Cambodia
Malaysia vs Vietnam Indonesia vs Thailand Brunei DS vs Timor Leste |
1130
1400 1630 1900 |
Bangkok Thonburi Stadium | 5 – 9
2 – 7 – – |
|
| 24-Apr | Rest Day | ||||||
| 25-
Apr-12 |
21
22 |
SF1
SF2 |
Winner A vs Runner-up B
Winner B vs Runner-up A |
1400
1700 |
Bangkok Thonburi | ||
| 26-Apr | Rest Day | ||||||
| 27-
Apr-12 |
23
24 |
3rd/4th
Final |
Loser SF1 vs Loser SF2
Winner SF1 vs Winner SF2 |
1400
1700 |
Bangkok Thonburi | ||
CURRENT STANDINGS
Group A
| TEAM |
P |
W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS |
| Vietnam | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 4 | +16 | 9 |
| Malaysia | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 19 | 8 | +11 | 9 |
| Myanmar | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 19 | -8 | 3 |
| Cambodia | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 16 | 24 | -8 | 3 |
| Philippines | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 12 | 23 | -11 | 3 |
Group B
| TEAM |
P |
W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS |
| Thailand | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 67 | 3 | +64 | 9 |
| Indonesia | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 5 | +32 | 9 |
| Brunei DS | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 39 | -31 | 0 |
| Timor Leste | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 38 | -32 | 3 |
| Laos | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 15 | 48 | -33 | 3 |
