Two Vietnamese players listed in AFF Suzuki Cup group stage’s best XI

Vietnamese midfielder Nguyen Cong Phuong and forward Nguyen Anh Duc have their names listed in Fox Sports Asia’s the best XI of the group stage of the ongoing 2018 ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup.
Two Vietnamese players listed in AFF Suzuki Cup group stage’s best XI ảnh 1Vietnamese midfielder Nguyen Cong Phuong and forward Nguyen Anh Duc (second from right) have their names listed in Fox Sports Asia’s the best XI of the group stage of the ongoing 2018 ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup (Photo: Fox Sports Asia)
Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnamese midfielder Nguyen Cong Phuong and forward Nguyen Anh Duc have their names listed in Fox Sports Asia’s the best XI of the group stage of the ongoing 2018 ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup.

The newspaper described Phuong as one of the brightest sparks of the Vietnam side. The youngster was the scorer of Vietnam’s first goal of the competition in the 3-0 win over Laos on November 8.

Phuong further added to his goal tally in Vietnam’s second match against Malaysia on November 16, when they won 2-0 despite having just 31 percent possession.

Together with Phuong, Duc was the one who helped Vietnam with his attacking contributions. The forward registered three on-target shots throughout the group stages, two of which became goals.

Duc further provided 2 assists during the first four matches and led the line superbly.

Other players selected include Singapore’s goalkeeper Hassen Sunny and defender Safuwan Baharudin, Malaysia’s defender Syahmi Safari and forward Norshahrul Idland Talaha, and Philippine midfielder Stephan Schrock. 

Four Thai footballers were named in the list. They were defender Pansa Hemviboon, defender Korrakot Wiriyaudomsiri, midfielder Sanrawat Dechmitr, and forward Adisak Kraisorn who is currently the tournament’s top scorer.

The semi-finals of the AFF Suzuki Cup will take place on December 1-2 and December 5-6.

Two-time defending champions Thailand play Group A runners-up Malaysia while Group A winners Vietnam take on the Philippines.

Vietnam topped Group A with 10 points (three victories and a draw). It is especially of note that the team kept a total clean sheet during the group stage. 

The AFF Suzuki Cup 2018 is taking place from November 8 to December 15 with 26 matches among 10 teams. 

In the history of the tournament, Vietnam won the championship just once in 2008. Under the leadership of coach Park Hang-seo and with the current squad, both Vietnamese and Korean football fans are hopeful the former country’s team will take the trophy for the second time after 10 years in the waiting. –VNA


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