VietNamNet Bridge – Myanmar delivered Vietnam a major upset by beating the host team 3-2 in the opening match of the HCM City International Football Cup yesterday at Thong Nhat Stadium.

Myanmar delivered Vietnam a major upset by beating the host team 3-2. (Photo: VNN)

The national team’s top striker, Le Cong Vinh, tested Myanmar’s goalkeeper Aung Aung Oo at the sixth minute with a clear shot taken 15m from the goal after some agile dodging outside the box. Vinh’s shot went wide.

Myanmar, who were the underdog at the tournament, made a surprise attack in the 14th minute.

Receiving the ball from a perfect right-wing pass, striker Tun Tun Min jumped up and tapped the ball into the net before Vietnamese defenders could do much to stop him.

It was a defensive mistake that gave Myanmar the early lead their opponents were sure they would get. Vietnam’s defence was weakened with the absence of halfback Nguyen Nhu Thanh, who was sidelined due to a ligament injury which he suffered last week during training.

The hole left by Thanh in the line-up was filled by the towering Tran Chi Cong, who is thought to be a qualified player but has not been too familiar with his new partner Nguyen Phuoc Tu.

The duo only had two days to play with each other before the tournament, causing big problems for coach Henrique Calisto in his first official tournament after taking charge of the Vietnam team in April.

Vinh levelled for Vietnam from a header which keeper Oo failed to control at the 63rd minute.

But Myanmar made their second goal only six minutes later as halfbacks Tu and Cong left a gaping hole in the defence for Myanmar to exploit. Striker Yan Paing converted a pass into the net with his shoulder.

Dismayed with Cong’s performance, Calisto replaced him with the more experienced Nguyen Minh Phuong while also adding one more striker to his team.

Vinh again levelled the score for Vietnam from a free kick during the final seconds of the second half. With most of the crowd expecting the game to end in a draw, Myanmar’s Khin Tha stunned home team fans with a goal during the second minute of extra time.

The player took control of the ball after chaotic play in the Vietnamese box. The ball bounced between several players’ feet, before Tha smashed the ball home past keeper Duong Hong Son.

In another HCM City International match, Turkmenistan beat South Korea’s student team 3-1.

(Source: Viet Nam News)