HANOI (11 Sept 2014) – After losing the cup final against the same Myanmar side just last month, Vietnam set the record straight when they emerged 4-1 victorious in the semi-finals of the AFF Nutifood Cup 2014 this evening at the My Dinh National Stadium.
Two goals in the first half and then two more after the break gave Vietnam all the right reason to celebrate where they will take on Japan in the final in two days.
“It was a superb win,” said Vietnam coach Graechen Guillaume. “The players played to instruction. The win today is for the people of Vietnam.”
In front of a sell-out crowd, the Vietnam lads certainly played to the stands as they went off early looking for the lead and not allowing Myanmar any chance at all of settling down.
Forwards Nguyen Van Toan and captain Nguyen Cong Phuong set the pace and pulled all the right move but Myanmar were sturdy in defence as they defended in numbers and denied the home team space to take the shot.
It was Myanmar who got the best chance at the start when off a blocked freekick in the 18th minute, Maung Maung Soe pounced on a loose ball for a shot that had it been any other day would surely have found its intended target.
But Myanmar were rattled. They just have not played in front of a crowd this big ever before. And their failure to keep their nerves intact would cost them in the end.
Phan Van Long gave a taste of what’s to come in the 22nd minute with a lob that had Myanmar keeper Myo Min Latt beaten, but which came off the crossbar instead.
And right at the half hour mark Vietnam finally pushed their fans to their feet when Nguyen Tuan Anh came racing down the middle for a swerving shot that left Min Latt no chance.
The loss of combative midfielder Myo Ko Tun to a bad aerial clash in the 35th minute would cost Myanmar dearly and it took Vietnam just four minutes later to capitalise on.
Luong Xuan Truong’s sublime freekick had Min Latt well beaten again as Myanmar faced the reality that tonight is just not going to be their night.
The visitors came charging into the second half in an effort to close the gap but just six minutes into the restart, Myanmar found themselves under further deficit when Van Toan burst his way through.
And while Myanmar did pull a goal back in the 54th minute through Aung Thu’s gallant effort, Vietnam snuffed any thought of further fight back in the 66th minute when Van Long raced ahead of his marker to score with the outside of his right foot.
SEMI-FINALS RESULTS
11 Sept 2014
Japan 2 Thailand 1
Myanmar 1 Vietnam 4
FIXTURES
13 Sept 2014
Third and Fourth Placing: Thailand vs Myanmar (1630)
Final: Japan vs Vietnam (1915)
