SHAH ALAM (7 Dec 2014) – Vietnam took a big advantage for a place in the final of the AFF Suzuki Cup this year when they edged Malaysia 2-1 in the first-leg, semi-finals that was played at the Shah Alam Stadium tonight.
After scoring the lead after just 13th minute through a penalty that was converted by captain Safiq Rahim, the homesters just lost steam as Vietnam found the equalizer through Vo Huy Toan in the 32nd minute and then the winner off Nguyen Van Quyet in the 61st minute.
“Even after we conceded the penalty, the players did not panic and they pushed hard for the equalizer,” said Vietnam coach Toshiya Miura.
“The score at 2-1 is no means a big advantage for the return leg but we will have to defend hard in Hanoi and make sure that we protect it.”
Vietnam almost silenced the more than 70,000 screaming fans led by the passion of the Ultras when off a quick through pass from Le Cong Ving, the waiting Ngo Hoang Thinh just fell short of the target.
But in the 13th minute off a shot from Mahalli Jasuli, defender Nguyen Van Bien was faulted for a handball which Safiq had no trouble to shoot past Vietnam keeper Tran Nguyen Manh.
Three minutes later, Malaysia managed an escape where after beating the offside trap, Cong Vinh got a shot in that was blocked by Khairul Fahmi Che Mat.
With the Malaysians a little off the pace and seemed to be a step slower than the speedy Vietnam side, they were punished in the 32nd minute when off a shot from Van Quyet, the waiting Huy Toan pounced on the rebound for the equalizer.
The score stood at 1-1 up until the hour mark when the Malaysian centrebacks were caught napping as Van Quyet raced in to shoot past Khairul to give Vietnam the lead.
Malaysia tried hard to get back into the game but even with the introduction of the talismanic Indra Putra Mahayuddin, the game was already beyond their reach as the rain doused all hope of a miracle comeback.
“I just don’t know what happened tonight. It was the worst game ever by the team,” said Malaysian coach Dollah Salleh.
“There were no organization in defending and attacking. The backline was a problem.”
THE TEAMS
MALAYSIA: Khairul Fahmi Che Mat (GK), Mahalli Jasuli, Safiq Rahim, Norshahrul Idlan Talaha (Abdul Manaf Mamat, 72nd), Mohd Safee Sali, S. Kunanlan, Azamuddin Akil (Indra Putra Mahayuddin, 81st), Mohd Hafiz Kamal (Gary Steven Robbat, 58th), Muhammad Zubir Mohd Azmi, Mohammad Muslim Ahmad, Mohd Fadhli Shas.
Head coach: Dollah Salleh
VIETNAM: Tran Nguyen Manh (GK), Le Phuoc Tu, Dinh Tien Thanh, Nguyen Van Bien, Ngo Hoang Thinh, Le Cong Vinh, Nguyen Van Quyet, Que Ngoc Hai, Pham Thanh Luong (Mac Hong Guan, 58th), Vo Huy Toan, Nguyen Huy Hung.
Head coach: Toshiya Miura
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Ma Ning (Chn)
Assistant referee 1: Mu Yuxin (Chn)
Assistant referee 2: Cao Yi (Chn)
Fourth Official: Fu Ming (Chn)
Match Commissioner: Tin Aung (Mya)
Referee Assessor: K. Visva Nathan (Sin)
General Coordinator: Andrew Lim (Sin)
