VIENTIANE (25 Oct 2011) – Vietnam made up for their failure to qualify the final of the AFF Women’s Championship 2011 by picking up the bronze medal when they defeated hosts Laos 6-0 in the third-fourth placing playoff at the National Stadium here this evening.
Vietnam, among the pre-tournament favourites, were stunned 2-1 by Myanmar in the semi-finals two days ago. And today, they showed that they were not disheartened by the loss and went on the hunt for goals right from the start.
The blazing heat did not slow down the Vietnam players who launched a tirade of attacks on their opponents. Their efforts paid off in the 29th minute when skipper Le Thi Thuong’s freekick sailed over the wall and sailed towards the left post.
Goalkeeper Bounyong Akhavong threw herself at the shot but was unable to keep her goal intact.
There was more celebration in the 36th minute when Huynh Nhu split through the defenders and slipped the ball past the onrushing Bounyong. Nguyen Thi Hoa made it 3-0 at the break with a close range shot as the Laos defenders scrambled to clear the loose ball.
As the Vietnam players continued to pressure, the Laos defence had a tough time stopping the strikers. In the 57th minute, substitute Sangvan Inthavong brought down Thi Hoa in the box and was fortunate not to be given a second yellow after receiving her first in the 47th minute.
Chuong Thi Kieu made sure of her spot kick by sending it to the right, well beyond the reach of an out-stretched Bounyong.
After the penalty, Vietnam added two more goals in as many minutes through Le Thu Thanh Huong and Thi Hoa in the 70th and 71st minutes respectively. It was Thi Hoa’s second goal of the evening.
Laos, to their credit, never gave up and pushed for the elusive goal. Despite coming close on a few occasions, they simply were unable to get their shots through.
Teams
VIETNAM: Le Thi Tuyet Mai (GK), Nguyen Thi Xuyen, Le Thi Thuy, Tran Thi Hong Nhung, Bui Thi Nhu, Nguyen Thi Tuyet Dung, Nguyen Thi Hoa, Chuong Thi Kieu (Le Thu Thanh Huong, 75th), Huynh Nhu, Le Thi Thuong (cpt) – Nguyen Thi Muon, 65th), Nguyen Hai Hoa
Head coach: Chen Yun Fa
Team Colours: Red/Red/Red
Scorers: Le Thi Thuong (29th), Huynh Nhu (36th), Nguyen Thi Hoa (40th, 71st), Chuong Thi Kieu (57th-pen), Le Thu Thanh Huong (70th)
Yellow: Tran Thi Hong Nhung (76th)
Red: nil
LAOS: Bounyong Akhavong (GK), Soutdaoloung Phasir (cpt), Noun Angmahongsa, Lasoy Vongviseth, Sochitta Phonhalath (Phonthip Phoummavong, 46th), Souphavanh Phayvanh, Johnny Sayasanh, Vanida Soukpanya, Viengkhone Chanthamala, Ting Sengmany (Sangvan Inthavong, 43rd), Nouandeng Sihalath
Head coach: Han Wong Chol
Team Colours: White/Blue/White
Scorers: nil
Yellow: Soutdaoloung Phasir (28th), Sangvan Inthavong (47th)
Red: nil
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Boonpasit Patchaya (Tha)
Asst Referee 1: Supawan Hinthong (Tha)
Asst Referee 2: Thida Oo (Mya)
Fourth Official: Thein Aye (Mya)
Match Commissioner: Chaichok Poompuang (Tha)
Referee Assessor: Pham Chu Thien (Vie)
General Coordinator: Xaybandith Rasphone (Lao)
Match No: 15
Match venue: National Stadium
AFF WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP 2011
(All matches at the National Stadium unless indicated otherwise)
GROUP A: Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore, Laos
GROUP B: Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines
16 Oct 2011: VIETNAM 9 SINGAPORE 1 / INDONESIA 0 LAOS 11
17 Oct 2011: MYANMAR 2 PHILIPPINES 0 / THAILAND 8 MALAYSIA 1
18 Oct 2011: SINGAPORE 1 INDONESIA 3 / LAOS 0 VIETNAM 4
19 Oct 2011: PHILIPPINES 1 THAILAND 5 / MALAYSIA 0 MYANMAR 8
20 Oct 2011: INDONESIA 0 VIETNAM 14 / LAOS 5 SINGAPORE 0
21 Oct 2011: MYANMAR 1 THAILAND 3 / PHILIPPINES 2 MALAYSIA 2
FINAL GROUP STANDINGS
Group A
| TEAM |
P |
W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS |
| Vietnam* | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 1 | 26 | 9 |
| Laos* | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 16 | 4 | 12 | 6 |
| Indonesia | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 26 | -23 | 3 |
| Singapore | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 17 | -15 | 0 |
*Teams qualified to the Semi-final round
Group B
| TEAM |
P |
W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS |
| Thailand* | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 3 | 13 | 9 |
| Myanmar* | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Philippines | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 9 | -6 | 1 |
| Malaysia | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 18 | -15 | 1 |
*Teams qualified to the Semi-final round
SEMI-FINALS
23 Oct 2011: VIETNAM 1 MYANMAR 2 / THAILAND 4 LAOS 0
THIRD-FOURTH PLACING / FINAL
25 Oct 2011: VIETNAM 6 LAOS 0 / Myanmar vs Thailand (1900)
