Phan Thanh Binh scored the game’s only goal to help Viet Nam beat Singapore in the opening match of the Smartdoor Cup at My Dinh National Stadium in Ha Noi yesterday.

Phan Thanh Binh scored the game’s only goal to help Viet Nam beat Singapore. (Photo: VNN)

Earlier, Juma’at was tested by at least three shots.

Two minutes after the goal, Singapore threatened goalie Bui Tan Truong but were foiled by hardworking host defenders.

Viet Nam had at least four goal chances in the second half but failed to convert.

Apart from Binh, captain Nguyen Thanh Luong, forward Hoang Dinh Tung and halfback Nguyen Trong Hoang attempts either were blocked or went wide.

The best chance for Singapore came in the 85th minute when a striker grabbed a ball from a counter-attack. He controlled the ball from the central area to near the box and looped it over Vietnamese Truong’s head as came out to tackle, but the shot went wide.

The last five minutes saw stormy assaults from the hosts, going over the visitors’ net. They made Juma’ at work like spiderman to keep the score at 1-0.

Viet Nam will next play China who drew 2-2 with Thailand in the earlier match of the tournament while Singapore will meet Thailand in the second match tomorrow.

The Smartdoor Cup is considered a warm up for the December’s Southeast Asian Games in Laos.

Last month, Viet Nam were beaten 1-2 in a friendly by South Korean Chunnam Dragons.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News