Match Overview
2016 AFF Suzuki Cup underdogs Indonesia continued to defy the odds as they sealed a 2-1 victory in the first leg of their semifinal against Vietnam at the Stadion Pakansari Stadium in Bogor.
Both teams went on the offensive from the start and an early goal from Indonesia’s Hansamu Pranata was cancelled out by Nguyen Van Quyet from the spot. The Garudas regained the advantage in the second half through Boas Salossa and held on to seal an impressive win on home soil.
The two Southeast Asian rivals will do it all over again in the second leg on 7th December at the My Dinh Stadium to decide who goes through to the final.
Goals
07’ (1-0) The crowd in Bogor was up for it and the Indonesian players duly obliged when Hansamu Pranata stormed in and rifled an unstoppable header off a Rizki Pora corner kick to give the Garudas an early lead
17’ (1-1) Le Cong Vinh goes down in the box and the referee points to the spot. Van Quyet held his nerves and slammed home the resulting penalty.
50’ (2-1) Stefano Lilipaly drove into the box and Que Ngoc Hai throws in a silly tackle to give away a penalty. Captain marvel Boas Salossa cool as a cucumber from the spot.
Match Highlights
Stardust in the stands –
Even before the two teams marched out for the national anthems, the crowd went into overdrive as Indonesian president Joko Widodo took his seat to watch the Merah Putih do battle in Bogor.
Vietnam break offside trap –
A beautiful lob pass in the 10th minute from Pham Thanh Luong found Van Quyet who broke the Indonesian offside trap, only to waste a golden opportunity.
Crunching tackles in Bogor –
Both teams are refusing to cave in as tempers flare around the pitch with 19 minutes played. Nguyen Trong Hoang’s reckless tackle on Manahati Lestusen almost started a free-for-all.
Alert Tran saves the day –
Andik Vermansyah’s cute lob over the Vietnam defence on 30 minutes put Rizki through on goal, only for goalkeeper Tran Nguyen Manh to come off his line early and diffuse the danger.
Lilipaly goes close from distance –
Having opened his account in the group stages, Dutch-based midfielder Lilipaly almost doubles his tally with a pinpoint free-kick that goes narrowly wide in the 38th minute.
Rizky is Indonesia’s set-piece specialist –
After going 2-1 up, it was Rizky who tormented the Vietnamese again but his 56th minute free-kick was tipped over the bar by Tran. Dangerous times for Vietnam.
Van Quyet wasteful yet again –
Just like he did in the first half, Van Quyet was presented with a golden opportunity in the 70th minute but put his header narrowly wide as the Vietnam bench looked on in frustration.
Crowd favourite Dimas gets 10 –
Still just 21 years of age, Evan Dimas came on to rapturous applause in place of Salossa. Not enough time to impress but he certainly looks like one for the future.
