VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam defeated Laos 4-0 in the final group B match yesterday at the Phuket Surakul Stadium and will meet Singapore in the semi-final round of the AFF Suzuki Cup 2008.

Eat dirt: Vietnamese striker Phan Thanh Binh (second, left) passes a Laotia player during the Viet Nam vs Laos at the AFF Suzuki Cup’s group round match. Binh scores the final goal of the match in which Viet Nam win 4-0.

When national top striker Le Cong Vinh disappointed expectations, Calisto called on Nguyen Viet Thang to replace him as lead forward. Only two minutes later, Thang opened the score of the match from a close-distance tap.

Halfback Nguyen Vu Phong gave the ball to Thang who controlled it well with a chest down, passing a Lao - defender before sinking a straight shot at the net pas Lao goalkeeper Sengpachan Bounthisanh.

Nearly 15 minutes later, it was 2-0 for Viet Nam after mid fielder Pham Thanh Luong made a solo shot, beating Bounthisanh for the second time.

Luong led the ball from the centre, passing two defenders for a shot at Bounthisanh’s right comer. He did not meet much resistance from the Laotian side in pocketing his second goal of the tournament. He impressed many Vietnamese spectators when he celebrated the goal with a small national flag, waving to hundreds of home fans who made the difficult trip to Phuket to support Viet Nam.

Two goals almost sent the Lao team into a breakdown, loosening their defence, which helped Viet Nam gain a third goal at the 65th minute.

Huynh Quang Thanh headed the ball perfectly to the goal’s mouth from Captain Nguyen Minh Phuong’s free kick.

Thanh ran from outside the box to pick up the ball, netting it with ease.

Later, Luong had a chance to wave his flag again when he slipped by two Lao defenders. However his shot went wide, missing a scoring opportunity for Viet Nam.

Captain Phuong did not score, though he played a key role in assisting his teammates. One of his efforts resulted in a fourth goal by talented forward Phan Thanh Binh at the 80th minute.

After the second group win, Viet Nam are second, with six points. They will meet with Singapore, who topped group A with nine points after all three victories on December 17.

In the most recent two matches between the two sides they took two draw games with a total result of 3-3.

Screaming fans

In the earlier group match, Thailand won with a perfect record, beating Malaysia 3- 0.

The hosts, who had earlier beaten Viet Nam 2-0 in their first game and then Laos 6-0 in their second group tie, picked up full points with goals off Sutee Suksomkit at the 20th minute and Teerasil Dangda at the 46th minute and 76th minute.

“Obviously, we are delighted with all the players as they got time on the pitch,” said Peter Reid, head coach for Thailand.

“We’ve worked very hard on the training ground. We attack and defend as a team. And at the moment, we are looking pretty solid.”

“It is difficult to play the game when we are under pressure to win,” said B Sathianathan, head coach for Malaysia.

“We started the second half badly and we were not disciplined at the back.”

(Source: VNS/Affsuzukicup.com)