Final Score: Vietnam 2-1 Cambodia (HT: 1-0)
Wunna Theikdi Stadium, Yangon, Myanmar
Saturday, November 26, 2016
Match Overview
Vietnam qualified for the 2016 AFF Suzuki Cup semi-finals after a 2-1 win at the Wunna Theikdi Stadium over Cambodia saw them finish top of Group B.
What was supposed to be a fairly straightforward victory for Vietnam was turned on its head in the opening minutes when Truong Dinh Luat received his marching orders for a poor tackle.
Vietnam refused to cave in and continued to pour forward, with inspirational captain Le Cong Vinh stabbing in the first goal before Cambodian centre-back Nub Tola scored an own goal to cap off a disappointing campaign for the Angkor Warriors.
Cambodia kept things interesting when Cheng Polroth smashed a 30-yard beauty past a stranded Vietnamese defence but the equaliser never came.
Goals
20′ (1-0) Despite going down to 10 men early on, Vietnam continued to push forward and were rewarded with the opening goal when Nguyen Van Toan’s pinpoint cross was finished off by Le Cong Vinh for his 51st international goal.
50′ (2-0) A simple long ball up into the heart of defence saw Nub Tola inexplicably lob the ball over his own goalkeeper to effectively kill off the match.
65′ (2-1) Cambodia pull one back from nowhere. Cheng Polroth collects the ball and lets rip from 30 yards with goalkeeper Tran Nguyen Manh in no man’s land.
Match Highlights
Vietnam see red early on –
Cambodia’s early pressing game paid dividends in the seventh minute when Chan Vathanaka was put through on goal only for centre-back Truong Dinh Luat to haul him down. Straight red from referee Kimura Hiroyuki and Vietnam are down to 10.
Early tactical switch for Vietnam –
With Cambodia carving out a couple of goalscoring opportunities in the opening 15 minutes, Vietnam coach Huu Thang made a tactical substitution on 17 minutes with defender Bui Tien Dung coming on for attacking midfielder Nguyen Cong Phuong.
Sovan header brings out great save –
Seemingly shocked by Vietnam taking the lead, Cambodia shook off the disappointment and almost levelled the game on 33 minutes. From a corner, Sok Sovan sent a downward header destined for the back of the net, only for Tran Nguyen Manh to pull off a great save.
Vietnam goal ruled out for offside –
Vu Van Thanh cut in from the left and drilled a shot past Um Serai Rath but the linesman had his flag up for offside.
Strange time for a change –
With both sets of players waiting for the half-time whistle, Lee Tae Hoon sends on Prak Mony Udom for Bin Chantha Cheary. The moment he sets foot onto the pitch, the whistle goes.
Cambodia’s one-man attacking force –
After going down 2-0 early in the second half, Vietnam sat back and allowed Cambodia to have more of the ball. Vathanaka was finally getting the support he deserves, having ploughed the offensive line on his own for much of the game.
Poor effort from left-back Vu –
After some lovely buildup play,Le Cong Vinh laid off a perfect ball to leave Vu with the simple task of rifling the ball into the net but the wing-back lashed it into the stadium floodlights instead.
Polroth almost does it again –
The Cambodian central midfielder was in confident mood after his goal but was denied a second when his stunning free-kick came back off the bar in the 84th minute.
