VIETNAM BECOME CHAMPS WITH SOLITARY GOAL WIN

Free flowing football was not possible in the match today because of the sodden pitch but Vietnam made the best of the conditions to take the title.

Their solitary goal win was paltry reward for their domination of the match where they enjoyed abundant possession that their forwards however could not leverage for maximum advantage.

The winner that came in the eighth minute was paved by a defensive error by Malaysian left back Muhamad Irfan Ghani who instead of heading a Vietnamese cross from the right into touch, turned it the other way.

Vietnamese keeper Nguyen Duc Nhan gratefully accepted the ball and booted it in through a gap in the forest of legs in front of him with the ball slipping into the far left corner of the net beyond sight of goalkeeper Mohd Salawi Jasad.

Buoyed by the gift goal, Vietnam stayed with the attack but a fast covering Malaysian defence prevented their forwards from having too long a look at goal and when chances were created, the soggy picth and wayward shooting depriving Vietnam of more goals.

In the first half, the Malaysian attack was virtually non-existent, the team unable to string more than two passes together.

There was more cohesion to their play in the second half but what attacks they mounted need a dollop of good fortune for a Malaysian boot or head to connect to a goal begging pass.

Malaysia pressed desperately in the final minutes but could not force a comeback as they had done twice earlier in the competition.

ON THE OTHER HAND, Thailand took third place in the competition when they Myanmar 2-0.

An own goal in the third minute and a 70th minute strike by Natthaphon Banmairurdi saw Thailand emerging the better of the two sides.