VIETNAM FINISHED UNBEATEN, INDONESIA PICK UP FIRST VICTORY

In the battle to avoid the last spot in the group, Indonesia claimed their first win when they defeated archrivals Malaysia 3-0.

Vietnam, who prevailed over Myanmar, Indonesia and Malaysia in their earlier encounters, faced a battling Laos side today.

Mathematically, Laos still had a chance to make the semi-finals but to score over 20 goals to make up for the goal difference to advance was impossible – and they knew it too.

Still, they fought as hard as they could and paid a heavy price for their spirited performance when first choice keeper Hongthong Choulapanh was taken to the hospital with a suspected broken cheek bone.

Laos started well and surprisingly had the first crack at goal through Soulanya Latsaphong, whose sizzler from the top of the box came off the crossbar in the 10th minute.

Shortly after, the well-oiled Vietnamese attacking machinery kicked in and they were all over the Laos defence. By the end of the first half, Vietnam were five goals up.

Le Thi Oanh was the first to get her name on the score sheet after turning in a cross from rightflanker Van Thi Thanh in the 19th minute.

Thi Oanh doubled the score three minutes later when she beat the offside trap and left the keeper rooted.

She completed her hattrick in the last minute when she raced past defence, side-stepped the keeper and blast it in.

The two other goals from Vietnam in the first half were courtesy of Do Thi Ngoc Cham (34th) and Le Thi Thuong (42nd).

Despite trailing by such a margin Laos, led by their skilful skipper Sochitta Phonhalath, never gave up and continued to fight occasionally taking shots at their opponent’s goal.

In the end, it was Vietnam who added to their tally with left-flanker Tran Thi Kim Hong hammering in the final goal of the match in the 67th minute.

Then came the scary moment when Hongthong clutched her face after clashing with a Vietnamese player as she attempted to punch the ball away.

She was quickly wheeled away to a waiting ambulance.

“It was a sad moment for us as we have been clear of injuries here. I suspect her cheekbone is broken but we will know for sure later,” said Laos coach Volker Hoferbert.

On the match, he said the Vietnamese players were in a class of their own.

“They are a fantastic side, they scored five goals in the first half and there was nothing we could do about it. They play systematically, using their flanks to cross in to the waiting strikers who are very good headers and excellent players. Their strikers No. 9 (Ngoc Cham) and No. 10 (Bui Thi Tuyat Mai) are really good, I wish I had one of them.”

Vietnam’s Chinese coach Chen Yunfa said that Laos had shown improvement throughout this tournament.

“They played well today and gave us a hard time, especially in the second half. They have good spirit, even after being down by five goals, they never gave up.”

On the semi-finals against Thailand, he said it would be a very close match.

“It’s hard to say, it will be a close battle with the ones who make good their opportunities winning the match.”

Earlier this evening, Indonesia, which had failed to score any goals in their previous matches, finally found their scoring touch against Malaysia.

All fired up after the rest day, Indonesia took the fight to their opponents from the start and almost got lucky in the first few minutes.

Then in the 13th minute, the Indonesians were celebrating their first goal when Sarce Nensi Buaim’s cross from the right turned out to be goal bound.

Malaysian keeper Ranie Paul fumbled the shot but as she desperately tried to clear the ball ended up hitting the post.

She was injured in the incident and was replaced by Dessica Dagang.

Four minutes from the break, skipper Yudith Herlina Sada broke free of her Malaysian marker, Jessie Nosin, to score the second goal.

Indonesia continued to press on and eventually picked up a third goal on the hour mark.

Maulina Novryliani miskicked a corner kick from Yudith but the ball spun towards goal and took a nasty swerve that caught goalkeeper Dessica flat-footed.

With the win, Indonesia finished fourth overall in Group A with three points while Malaysia ended fifth without any points.

For the record, Vietnam topped the group with a maximum of 12 points while Myanmar were second with nine and Laos third with six.

In the other group, Australia topped out with nine points with Thailand second.

TODAY’S RESULTS
Group A: Malaysia 0 Indonesia 3, Laos 0 Vietnam 6

REMAINING FIXTURES

Oct 17: Rest Day

Oct 18: SEMIFINALS – Vietnam vs Thailand, Australia vs Myanmar

Oct 19: Rest Day

Oct 20: FINAL

STANDINGS

Group A
Vietnam12pts (+23)
Myanmar 9pts (+18)
Laos 6pts (-10)
Indonesia 3pts (-8)
Malaysia 0pt (-23)

Group B
Australia 9pts (+15)
Thailand 6pts (+16)
Philippines 3pts (-17)
Singapore 0pt (-14)

Note: Teams in bold have qualified for the semifinals