Vietnam out of regional football tourney
Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam’s national men’s
football team was knocked out of the Southeast Asian Football Championship
after the 2-2 second-leg draw at My Dinh Stadium on December 7.
Indonesia won 4-3 on aggregate after
two legs, booking their place in the finals of the regional football
championship.
In the December 7 match, Vietnam dominated the first
half and created some chances but failed to capitalise. Indonesia completely
committed to the defensive playing from the out and waited for quick counter
attacks.
The second half began with even more clear-cut chances
for Vietnam but captain Le Cong Vinh missed them all. The match turned worse
for Vietnam as Indonesian midfielder Stefano Lilipaly took advantage of mistakes
of Vietnamese goalkeeper Tran Nguyen Manh and defender Tran Dinh Dong to open
the score after 54 minutes.
The hosts’ misery was compounded
when keeper Mạnh received a straight red card in the 77th minute.
Defender Que Ngoc Hai donned the
gloves as Vietnam had already used the maximum three substitutions.
However, a turning point came on the 83rd minute when
from a right corner, Pham Thanh Luong passed the ball to right-wing defender Vu
Van Thanh who buried the ball into the low corner, putting the match on equal
terms.
The goal brought back hope for Vietnamese players on
the field and fans on the stand as well as TV viewers, helping Vietnam sustain
their attacks until the last minutes that resulted in a goal in the stoppage
time.
Substitute Vu Minh Tuan tricked the ball past
Indonesian defenders to race clear into the box before driving his shot to the
far corner of the goal.
The goal brought the game into
extra-time, with the two teams deadlocked at 3-3 after two legs.
But the revived hope was short-lived when stand-in keeper Que Ngoc Hai fouled
an Indonesian player in the penalty area.
Manahati Lestusen made no mistake
from the spot kick, equalising on the night at 2-2, and sending Indonesia to
the final with a 4-3 aggregate win.-VNA