Vietnam edge Malaysia 3-2 in first win

Hanoi (VNA) - Substitute Nguyen Vu Phong scored twice to clinch a 3-2 win
for Vietnam in a do-or-die match with Malaysia in the ASEAN Football
Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup at Sarakul Stadium in Phuket, Thailand on Dec.
8.

Midfielder Phong, who scored five of eight goals for Vietnam 's Olympic
team during the Beijing Olympic qualifiers last year, helped the team
achieve its first win since coach Henrique Calisto took over in April.

The win now opens the door to the semi-finals for Vietnam , after the team
suffered a 2-0 loss to Thailand in group B opener on Dec. 6.

Striker Nguyen Viet Thang took a shot at goal just three minutes into the
game, but his shot was easily saved by Malaysian goalkeeper Elias.

Elias, however, could not block a 30m skilful shot by Vietnamese midfielder
Pham Thanh Luong in the 17 th minute.

Luong dribbled the ball to the centre and suddenly launched a rocket to the
back of the net, putting Vietnam in the lead.

Vietnam 's happiness did not last long, because Indra Putra tapped the
ball in after Mohd Zainal's shot hit the post in the 20 th minute.

The goal helped Malaysia tie the score and led Calisto to shout at the
Singaporean referee for allowing the goal when the striker appeared to be
offside.

From that time in the game, Calisto had to instruct his players through an
assistant from the stand.

The first half ended 1-1.
After the break, Calisto substituted Phong for Captain Nguyen Minh Phuong,
who helped Vietnam bag a bronze medal at the championship in 2002.

The change paid off.
In the 72 nd minute, Phong chested his teammate's lob near the 18-yard edge
past a Malaysian defender and stunned goalie Elias with a powerful shot to
the net at a close corner.

Earlier, Malaysia missed a clear chance when Mohd Safee Sali rocketed
the ball to hit the bar.

Malaysia managed to tie the score in the 85 th minute, with Indra Putra
scoring his second goal of the game.

The match seemed it would end in a draw as time was running out. But,
Vietnam got lucky.

Four minutes to the last whistle, Phong lobbed the ball to striker Le Cong
Vinh in a final attack. Driving rain and Elias straying too far from the
goal allowed Phong's pass to bounce over Elias and roll into the net, making
possible the valuable win for Vietnam .

The win sustained Vietnam in third place of group B with three points, but
the team needs a win over Laos in their last match on Dec. 10 to sail
into the semi-finals.

In a later match on Dec. 8, Thailand crushed Laos 6-0 to rank at the
top with six points and qualify for the semi-finals.

The last match between Vietnam and Laos will be held at Sarakul Stadium in
Phuket instead of in Bangkok as originally planned, while Thailand will
face-off with Malaysia in Bangkok.-Enditem