Vietnam’s goalkeeper Duong Hong Son (L) and Lebanon’s Akram Moghrabi fight for the ball during their AFC Asian Cup 2011 qualifying football match at My Dinh Stadium in Hanoi January 14

Henrique Calisto took Vietnam’s national football team to new heights with an impressive win over Lebanon in the Group D opening match in the Asian Cup 2011 qualifier.

The harsh decision by Japanese Iemoto Masaaki to send Le Cong Vinh off in the 54th minute, which increased the tension and nervousness of Vietnamese fans, didn’t make it too difficult for the host team, even though they had to play the last 40 minutes with only 10 men.

The hosts increased their lead to 3-0 after a counter-attack from right wing, with Vu Phong putting the last nail into Lebanon’s coffin, tapping the ball passed by Viet Thang into the goal.

This goal not only killed the last of the visitors’ hopes but also surprised the 20,000-plus supporters at Hanoi’s My Dinh stadium.

The boys did what Vietnam coach Calisto had said was the most important thing for them – “getting back to the earth after winning the ASEAN trophy” – and maintaining concentration on their Lebanese rivals.

It was easy to see the team has improved quickly since their AFF Cup victory. Players controlled the ball confidently and were not troubled by the pressure from their rivals. That was why they managed to keep visitors at bay although they had to play with 10 men for 40 minutes.

In the game’s difficult moments, Vietnamese goalie Hong Son showed why he is the number one candidate for this season’s Golden Ball award.

For the 40 minutes they faced the depleted 10-member Vietnamese side, Akram Moghrabi managed to score a goal in the 73rd minute and Mohamad Ghaddar made an impressive – but failed – attempt at goal with a bicycle kick in the 81st minute.

They could not avoid the destiny of their Olympic team, which also lost to Vietnam 0-2, in the 2008 Olympic qualification match two years ago.

The host had a dream start with a nice goal in the 10th minute, which was almost an action replay of the goal that won Vietnam the AFF Cup final against Thailand last month.

In the same position for a free kick, Minh Phuong flung a fiery pass to Lary Mehanna to slam into the net. There was no Le Cong Vinh waiting for a header, as he was in the game with Thailand, but the kick went straight to the goal, taking Lebanon’s goalie by surprise.

After that goal, the situation on the field remained the same. The hosts continued to keep possession of the ball and mounted more dangerous attacks.

The score was doubled 20 minutes later with an assault launched from Phan Van Tai Em in left wing, with Viet Thang heading the ball beautifully to Le Cong Vinh, who sent it home.

Minh Phuong and Vu Phong won US$1,000 each from Portable Hammock Frame Duy Loi Company for scoring the first goal and player of the match.

The Vietnam Football Federation also awarded VND300 million ($17,640) to the national team for the win.

In the second Group D match, Syria defeated China 3-2 after taking a 3-0 lead in the first half.

Reported by Ngoc Thinh Le