Midfielder Thanh Luong (R) celebrates with teammates after doubling the score for Vietnam in Wednesday’s clash against Laos at Sarakul Stadium on Thailand’s Phuket Island

Vietnam has cruised into the 2008 ASEAN Football Federation Suzuki Cup semifinals after beating Laos 4-0 in Wednesday’s clash at Sarakul Stadium on Thailand’s southern Phuket Island.

Vietnam dominated the match with relentless attacks putting constant pressure on their opponents.

However, Vietnam’s attacks during the first half were simple and were stopped by Laos, which lost 3-0 to Malaysia last Saturday and 6-0 to Thailand on Monday.

Strikers Le Cong Vinh and Phan Thanh Binh and midfielder Thach Bao Khanh had some scoring chances but failed to put Vietnam ahead.

The first half ended without a goal for Vietnam, who started the second half with the fatigued striker Vinh replaced by Viet Thang.

The substitute broke the deadlock, scoring four minutes into the second half.

Encouraged by the goal, the Vietnamese team continued to attack and Vietnam’s coaching staff threw in midfielder Thanh Luong, who scored the opener in the 3-2 win over Malaysia on Monday, to replace Khanh to strengthen the front line.

Luong, who is not big but moves skillfully, doubled the lead for Vietnam in the 63rd minutes after moving fast down the right flank and turning around a Lao defender before striking.

Less than three minutes later, Quang Thanh headed the ball into the high corner of Laos’ net to make the score 3-0.

Striker Binh, who has been nursing an injury recently, struck nine minutes from time to wrap up an easy 4-0 victory against Laos.

The win secured Vietnam the second place in Group B, which will encounter Group A’s top placed

Singapore in the first leg match at Hanoi’s My Dinh Stadium next Wednesday and in Singapore for the second leg match on December 21.

“The win was not easy. Laos proved a tough opponent,” Calisto said after the match. “They launched very good counter attacks. That is why my players had a lot of difficulty finding their way into their net.”

Meanwhile, and Vietnam Football Federation General Secretary Tran Quoc Tuan and Deputy Chairman Duong Vu Lam have complained to AFF organizers about Vietnam’s coach Hendrique Calisto being barred from the sidelines of Wednesday’s match.

Reported by Quang Huy