SEA GAMES 2011: VIETNAM SURVIVE SCARE TO WIN FULL POINTS

JAKARTA (3 Nov 2011) – Vietnam survived some harrowing moments before they were able to score a 3-1 win over the Philippines to pick up the full points in the opening match of Group B of the men’s football event at the SEA Games this evening at the Stadion Utama Gelora Bung Karno.

The score line to say the least was flattering to the 2009 runners-up with the Philippines deservedly taking the lead in the 37^th minute off Manny Ott before Philippines captain Mattew Hartmann’s own goal in the 59^th minute put Vietnam back on track.

Vietnam then scored two further goals off Le Hoang Thien in the 72^nd minute and Nguyen Phan Nguyet in the last minute of play for the final score line.

With battling midfielder Manny Ott joining the Philippines squad at the last minute, the team was spearheaded by Gerardo Valmayor and J. Moralo upfront with Roland Muller in goal.

It was Vietnam who dictated the pace and rhythm of the game as they controlled the possession to create several chances with captain Pham Thanh Luong missing a sitter in the ninth minute before Anh Quang’s shot sometime later was blocked by recovering defender Martinez de Murga.

But in the 37^th minute, it was Manny Ott who gave the Philippines the shock lead where after a back flick from Mark Hartmann, the former shot in between two Vietnamese centre backs for them to take a 1-0 lead at the break.

While Muller continuing to prevent Vietnam from nailing the equaliser with several excellent saves, it was to be Mattew Hartmann who gave the goal to Vietnam when in the 59^th minute, he headed the ball into his own het off a cross from Le Van Thang.

Frustrated, the Philippines tried to protect at least the one point which was within them but that too soon backfired when Vietnam piled on the pressure to take the lead for the first time in the game in the 72^nd minute of play.

Le Hoang Thien punished Muller when the latter came off his line to stop an earlier attempt from Nguyen Van Quyet.

Van Nguyet then completed the frustration for the Philippines with the third and final goal in injury time.

SEA GAMES 2011 RESULTS and FIXTURES

GROUP B