UPPING THE ANTE

Two Asean host nations have already scored inspiring results at the on-going Asian Cup 2007 with Thailand nailing a 1-1 draw in their first game against Iraq while last night, Vietnam demonstrated just how it should be done with clinical finishers from Huynh Quang Thanh and Le Cong Vinh.

“It was a very interesting match and is the biggest result in the history of Vietnamese football. I was delighted when I scored the second goal,” said Cong Vinh.

In front of a sell out crowd of 40,000 at the My Dinh Stadium, Huynh Quang Thanh stunned the UAE with a close range finish in the 63rd minute before Cong Vinh added the second goal with an exquisite lob some ten minutes later.

“We now have an excellent chance of progressing to the next round after starting the tournament with a win,” Cong Vinh added.

“The team is very confident and we believe we can make it to the quarter-finals. It is now an open group and Vietnam have an excellent chance.

“Vietnam are the smallest team in the group, but after this victory the image Qatar and Japan have of our team will change. The fans were very important; they made the team feel stronger.”

Vietnam’s next match will be against Qatar (on Thursday) while Asean other hosts Indonesia will take on Bahrain in Group D on Tuesday (local time1720) at the Stadium Gelora Bung Karno in Jakarta while Malaysia – playing in Group C – will entertain China later the same day (local time 2035) at the Stadium Nasional in Kuala Lumpur.

PIC: VIETNAM IN ACTION AGAINST THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES