VIENTIANE (25 Aug 2015) – Vietnam blasted a goal in each half against Timor Leste to win their opening AFF Under-19 Championship Group B match at the National Sports Complex Stadium here today. For Timor Leste, the defeat was their second in two days after going down to Malaysia two days ago.
Vietnam claimed the first goal in the 27th minute and sealed their victory with a second a minute from time. With the win, Vietnam are currently top of the group but that is expected to change after the second match between Malaysia and Singapore tonight.
The humid conditions today did not seem to be a problem for the Vietnam players. They appeared to adjust well to the weather and were soon creating trouble for their opponents. Lam Thuan, playing down the right flank, was especially menacing with his darting runs in the box.
After a miss in the 15th minute, Vietnam struck paydirt in the 27th minute. Duong Van Hao sent in a low shot which Lam Thuan hammered into goal. In the 35th minute, Van Hao picked up the ball from his own half and from some distance out, fired away. He was clearly aiming for the far corner but while his shot went over the keeper, it sailed on a mite too long and sailed past the right post.
It could have been two goals up but Lam Thuan, who barged down the right before crossing the ball towards the onrushing Phan Thanh Hau, watched is despair as his teammate failed to connect into an open goal.
After the break, Vietnam continued to push forward but were not able to break through the Timor Leste defence. Their goalkeeper, Fangio Pereira was in great form and blocked everything that went his way.
But Timor suffered a blow when Fangio was carried off just past the hour mark following a clash with striker Lam Thuan. He was replaced by Aderito Fernandes but he was unable to stop an attempt from Nguyen Tien Linh in the 89th minute.
“It was a tough game for us,” said Timor Leste coach Kago Takuma.
TODAY’S RESULTS
Group B
Timor Leste 0 Vietnam 2
7.00pm: Malaysia vs Singapore
FIXTURES
Aug 26 (Group A)
4.00pm: Laos vs Brunei
7.00pm: Thailand vs Philippines
Aug 27 (Group B)
4.00pm: Vietnam vs Malaysia
7.00pm: Myanmar vs Timor Leste
Aug 28 (Group A)
4.00pm: Philippines vs Cambodia
7.00pm: Brunei vs Thailand
Aug 29 (Group B)
4.00pm: Malaysia vs Myanmar
7.00pm: Singapore vs Vietnam
Aug 30 (Group A)
4.00pm: Thailand vs Cambodia
7.00pm: Laos vs Philippines
Aug 31 (Group B)
4.00pm: Timor Leste vs Singapore
7.00pm: Myanmar vs Vietnam
Note: For full fixtures and details, please go to www.aseanfootball.org
