MANILA (25 Nov 2019) – As the four teams in Group A having to be content with sharing the spoils and the one point each, Vietnam made a smashing start to their campaign in Group B when they thrashed Brunei DS 6-0 on the first matchday of the men’s football event at the SEA Games 2019.
At the Rizal Memorial Stadium, hosts Philippines showed plenty of guts and determination to hold Cambodia to a 1-1 draw.
Keo Sokpheng had given Cambodia the lead at the end of the first half in the 41st minute only for the Philippines to storm back for the one point with a late strike from Dennis Chung in the very last minute of regulation.
Both teams then threw everything they had in additional time but just lacked that last touch to win the full points.
In an earlier match at the same venue, Malaysia had a header in the 24th minute from Hadi Fayyadh to thank for their 1-1 draw against Myanmar.
A superb curling corner from Soe Moe Kyaw in the 13th minute had given Myanmar the best of start as the Malaysians then replied with the equaliser barely ten minutes later.
In the meantime at the Binan Football Stadium, Vietnam started their campaign in Group B on an upbeat note with a 6-0 beating of Brunei DS.
Ha Duc Chinh carved out four personal goals in the 10th, 24th, 48th and 66th minute as Viet Hung Trieu (59th) and Nguyen Trong Hung (83rd) then added the others for the comprehensive victory.
“The tournament is long and it is for that reason we had to rest some of the key players at the bench,” said Vietnam head coach Park Hang-seo after the game.
