Becamex Binh Duong created a slight advantage ahead of the away second-leg semi-final at the Asian Football Confederation Cup after beating Syria’s AI Karamah 2-1

Defender Tran Chi Cong opened the score for the home team. (Photo: VNN)

Defender Tran Chi Cong opened the score for the home team scoring off of Nguyen Vu Phong’s corner kick 17 minutes into the first half.

Four minutes from the break, Brazilian striker Philani Bhekizizwe Lancelot Kubheka again showed his skill by slipping one past Al Karamah’s goalkeeper Mosab Balhous from about 5m to double the score.

The visitors scored in the 68th minute when Ahmad Alomier, who came on in place of Haani Al Taiar at the beginning of the second half, hit home from inside the box.

With this advantage, even a 0-0 draw in the away match is enough for Binh Duong to gain a place in the final.

The tall visitors began the match stronger and put some pressure on the home players and made the capacity crowd nervous, but only ten minutes into the match the home team regained their form and launched attacks on the opponent.

“Al Karamah are difficult rivals who have better height and technique than us. However, we are the winner today, because we can take full of our chances,” said coach Chung.

“The victory will bring some advantages for us in the second leg, and we will make a final,” he said.

Coach Mohammad Kwid of Al Karamah said his team had a bad first half when two mistakes were made which ere converted into two goals for the host. The second half was better as they narrowed the score, but it was not enough.

“Al Karamah will step up the offense, when we meet them in the second match to ensure a berth in the final,” he confirmed.

The victory continued Vietnamese football teams’ impressive head-to-head record against football teams from the Middle East.

In the 2007 AFC Cup, which Viet Nam co-hosted with Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore, the underdog Vietnamese team won against the United Arab Emirates and drew with Qatar to reach the quarter-final.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News