SINGAPORE HOLD ADVANTAGE OVER VIETNAM

Singapore, who were held to a 1-1 draw by the Philippines in the first match, fought back to a fabulous 2-1 win last night over Myanmar.

And against the hosts and the defending champions Vietnam in their final Group B match here in Hanoi, the Lions will only need a draw to book their place in the semi-finals of the championship this year.

“It will be a close game as it has been in the last several meetings of the two teams but one thing for sure, it will be an exciting match between two teams which have two different playing styles,” said Avramovic.

“Vietnam have shorter and more quick players and they play differently as compared to Singapore which have players who are more heavy, so we play the game which suits our physicality.”

“I had already said before the start of the tournament that it will be an interesting championship. Some people said that Group B is an easy group (as compared to Group A), but I think that it is an easy group to go out.”

For Vietnam, it is important that they put the shock loss to the Philippines last night behind them as they will have to muster all that they possibly can to overcome Singapore and win their place in the last four.

With just three points to their name, Vietnam will have to win the game outright or risk having a short campaign at this year’s AFF Suzuki Cup 2010.

“Some people said that Philippines are weak but they showed in the last two games that they are not. They work well together and they are cool under pressure. With the locals and the several ‘foreign’ players working together, they have found the formula to win matches. That is their formula although I think that they will need a different one for the long term,” added Vietnam chief coach Henrique Calisto.

“They have brought an English mentality and discipline to their game and for Vietnam; we have to be mentally stronger to be better. Technically, most players are the same but we have to be mentally stronger to win the bigger matches.

“Against Singapore, it will be a balanced game so it will be tough to predict the outcome.”

AFF SUZUKI CUP 2010, FINAL ROUND RESULTS and FIXTURES

Group A – Jakarta, Indonesia (GELORA BUNG KARNO STADIUM, JAKARTA)

1 Dec THAILAND 2 LAOS 2/ INDONESIA 5 MALAYSIA 1

4 Dec THAILAND 0 MALAYSIA 0/ LAOS 0 INDONESIA 6

7 Dec Malaysia vs Laos (1930hrs at Jakabaring Stadium, Palembang) / Indonesia vs Thailand (1930hrs at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Hanoi)

STANDINGS

1. INDONESIA 6pts (+10)

2. THAILAND 2pts (=)

3. MALAYSIA 1pt (-4)

4. LAOS 1pt (-6)

Group B – Hanoi, Vietnam (MY DINH NATIONAL STADIUM, HANOI)

2 Dec SINGAPORE 1 PHILIPPINES 1/ VIETNAM 7 MYANMAR 1

5 Dec SINGAPORE 2 MYANMAR 1/ PHILIPPINES 2 VIETNAM 0

8 Dec Myanmar vs Philippines (1930hrs at Hien Truong Stadium, Nam Dinh) / Vietnam vs Singapore (1930hrs at My Dinh National Stadium, Hanoi)

STANDINGS

1. PHILIPPINES 4pts (+2)

2. SINGAPORE 4pts (+1)

3. VIETNAM 3pt (+4)

4. MYANMAR 0pt (-7)