ALL SQUARE ON SECOND MATCH DAY IN THONG NHAT

Following the results on the day and after two matches, Australia are at the top of table with four points while second and third respectively are Thailand and Vietnam with two points each.

South Korea are at the bottom with just a point.

Hosts Vietnam which had held defending champions Thailand to a 1-1 draw in the first match two days earlier, stuck to their game plan to fend off the Koreans scoreless in the first half.

But with just two minutes left to the hour mark, the more physical Koreans blasted in the lead when Lee Ki Je blasted the free kick to the top right hand corner of the Vietnam goal.

Pushed on by the several thousand fans, Vietnam pressed the South Koreans and deep in injury time, they finally scored the equaliser when Nguyen Van Thanh nodded home off a cross from Nguyen Tan Tai.

“Before the match against the Koreans, we spent a lot of time on the physical work as we knew that the Koreans were more disciplined and depended a lot on the long ball,” said Vietnam chief coach Trieu Quang Ha after the match.

In the meantime, Thailand showed that even with the shortest possible time, they can still mould a squad competitive enough at this level when they held Australia to a 1-1 draw.

But this time round, it was Australia who set the early pace with Benjamin Halloran taking a third minute shot which ricocheted off the Thai crossbar.

A minute later however, the Oz went on to take the lead when Brendan Hamill took advantage of some poor clearance from the Thai defence to slot the ball home.

And while Thailand fought hard to win more control of the midfield, their best chance in the first half came only in the 40th minute of play with a Visarut Vaingan free kick which came off the defensive wall before hitting the post and then into the arms of keeper Mark Birighitti.

The Thais came out stronger in the second half and in the 53rd minute Attaphon Kannoo was presented with a chance to score off a cross from Chananan Pombubpha but the former just took too long to score.

With Australia unable to double their lead despite a great opportunity from Kliment Taseski’s wicked grounder, it was Thailand who provided the cheer to the spectators when they finally carved out their equaliser on 71 minute.

Off a long cross from Ponlachai Hongthong, striker Pattana Sokjoho beat his marker before unleashing a stiff shot to the far post to beat Birighitti for the first time in the competition.

“I should say that I must be happy with the draw. Two matches, two points which is not too bad for a team which had very little time to prepare. But I see quality and I’m happy,“ added Thailand chief coach Chalermvud Sangnapol.

RESULTS and FIXTURES

24 July: AUSTRALIA 1 SOUTH KOREA 0/ VIETNAM 1 THAILAND 1

26 July: THAILAND 1 AUSTRALIA 1/ SOUTH KOREA 1 VIETNAM 1

28 July: South Korea vs. Thailand (1600hrs)/ Vietnam vs. Australia (1830hrs)

30 July: 3rd position vs. 4th position (1600hrs)/ winner vs. runner-up (1830hrs)

CURRENT STANDINGS

1. Australia 4pts (+1)

2. Thailand 2pts (=)

3. Vietnam 2pts (=)

4. South Korea 1pt (-1)