YANGON (19 Sept 2011) – Striker Nguyen Xuan Nam scored once in each half against Malaysia to lead Vietnam into the final of the AFF Under-19 Championship 2011 where they will face favourites Thailand on Wednesday. The match ended with Vietnam winning 2-1 at the historic Aung San Stadium here today.
In the other semi-final tie played at the same time at the YouthTraining Centre, hosts Myanmar missed a late penalty to suffer a 2-1 loss to Thailand. Myanmar will now face Malaysia in the third-fourth playoff on Wednesay.
Vietnam, unbeaten in the group stage, were expected to overwhelm theMalaysians with their awesome firepower which resulted in 18 goals in the first round. Stunned by the early Malaysian charge, they managed to shrug it off to walk away with a slender victory and a place in the final.
The quick-paced Xuan Nam, a constant thorn in the side of the Malaysian defenders, performed remarkably. His first goal was a superb long-range strike and later sealed it for Vietnam with a header at the near post. Malaysia struck through Nur Areff Kamaruddin four minutes from the break to put the half time score at 1-1.
In the first half, the Malaysians managed to contain the speedy Vietnamese attack and in fact helped themselves to a few chances. In the seventh minute, Muhammad Shafiq Azman could have netted an early goal but he sliced his shot from just inside the box. There was another clear chance in the 25thminute but skipper Muhammad Akram Mahinan blasted straight at the keeper.
The Vietnamese strikers began to shake loose of their markers just past the half hour mark. They began making their moves forward and for the first time, the Malaysians began to fall back. Xuan Nam gave the Vietnam fans something to cheer for when his header, off a cross from Nguyen Minh Hai on the right, turned too far to the left.
Xuab Nam however got the fans on their feet in the 37th minute. From some 25-metres out, he took aim and blasted his shot which perfectly dipped over Malaysian keeper and into goal.
With four minutes to go, the Malaysians charged back to level the score. Akram’s free kick from outside the box hit the wall but Nur Areff Kamaruddin managed to rush in and smash the loose ball home.
It was Vietnam that was on the ball for most of the second half. Their efforts paid off when they were awarded a free kick in the 79th minute. Substitute Don Hung Dung floated his shot towards the near post and Xuan Nam rushed in, surprising the Malaysian keeper, to sneak his header in.
The Malaysians tried desperately to get back into the game but their efforts were off the mark, allowing Vietnam to advance to the final.
TEAMS
VIETNAM (Red/Red/Red): Nguyen Son Hai (GK), Vo Huy Toan (Do Hung Dung, 52nd), Le Xuan Anh, Que Ngoc Hai (Cpt), Ho Sy Sam, Phan Dinh Thang, Nguyen Thanh Hien (Dao Duy Khanh,84th), Nguyen Xuan Nam, Nguyen Viet Phong (Le Quoc Anh, 35th),Nguyen Minh Hai, Nguyen Van Manh
Head coach: Trieu Quang Ha
Scorers: Nguyen Xuan Nam (37th,79th)
Yellow cards: Le Xuan Anh(60th), Nguyen Xuan Nam (79th), Que Ngoc Hai (90th)
MALAYSIA (Blue/White/Blue):Mohd Farhan Abu Bakar (GK), Mohamad Ashmawi Roslan, Muhammad Akram Mahinan,Mohamad Syafiq Shalihin (Muhammad Akhir Bahari, 68th), Muhammad Akmal Ishak, Muhammad Shafiq Azman (Mohd Azzizan Nordin, 87th), Mohamad Syawal Nordin (Muhamad Shaaban Roslan, 75th), Nur Areff Kamaruddin, MohamadRidzuan Abdunloh Pula, Shahrul Mohd Saad, Mohamad Syuhiran Zainal
Head coach: Ismail Ibrahim
Scorer: Nur Areff Kamaruddin(41st)
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Tuy Vichhika (Cam)
Asst Referee 1: Grant Rojas(Phi)
Asst Referee 2: Phongsanit Xaypaseuth (Lao)
Fourth Official: Oki Dwi Putra Senjaya (Ina)
Match Commissioner: JuanMiguel Pacifico David (Phi)
Referee Assessor: JuanMiguel Pacifico David (Phi)
General Coordinator: Andrew Lim (Sin)
SEMI-FINAL FIXTURES
19 Sept: THAILAND 2 MYANMAR 1 / VIETNAM 2 MALAYSIA 1
THIRD and FOURTH PLACING / FINAL FIXTURES
(Both matches at the Youth Training Centre)
21 Sept: Myanmar vs Malaysia (1530) / Thailand vs Vietnam (1810)
