COMMANDING WIN FOR VIETNAM

Two goals in each half of the game made sure of the win for the defending champions although head coach Dinh Huong Vinh was gracious in his post match comments afterwards.

“It is just our first match and even though it was good to win the three points, it is too soon to talk about the semi-finals,” said Huong Vinh.

“The challenge in the group is well-balanced so I can only comment on the semi-finals after the second match in the group.”

Although the rain stayed away for much of the game, the slippery conditions did not make for a great game of attacking football in front of more than 8,000 spectators in attendance.

The game was even in the opening quarter with Vietnam having their first look in the sixth minute when Nguyen Dinh Loi dribbled past two defenders but took just a tad too long to execute the last touch.

Singapore replied in the 23rd minute with a header from Mohd Firman Hanif off a corner kick, but the ball just went by a yawning goal mouth.

However, there was no stopping Vietnam from grabbing the lead in the 27th minute when Nguyen Dinh Qui took advantage of a defensive lapse to slot the ball home.

Just seven minutes after the restart, Vietnam added their second goal of the afternoon when Giang Tran Quach Tan blasted home from the edge of the penalty box.

Singapore became more determined after that where in the 62nd minute, Muhavmin Salim blasted wide after evading his markers while some ten minutes later, Mohd Firman headed wide off a cross from the left.

“The problem is simple and that is my players went to sleep and that resulted in the goals,” added Singapore head coach Abdullah Mohd Noor.

“But I have to say that the AFF has done a tremendous job in organising this tournament as it will allow our young players to develop and to compete at a higher level.”

GROUP B STANDING

1. VIETNAM 3pts (+2); 2. SINGAPORE 0pt (-2); 3. LAOS 0pt; 4. MYANMAR 0pt.

PIC: SINGAPORE (in red) against VIETNAM (in white)