Super sub Nguyen Quang Hai scored the winning

Hanoi (VNA) – Super sub Nguyen Quang Hai scored the winning goal in the 88 th
minute of the country’s friendly game against Greek champions Olympiacos at My
Dinh National Stadium on May 14.

Hai netted the ball from Nigerian-born Dinh Hoang Max’s cross in the last minutes
of the game, stunning substitute Slovakia ’s goalkeeper Pavel Kovac.

The friendly game, attended by State President Nguyen Minh Triet, marked the
first-ever appearance of Ukraine-born goal-keeper Dinh Hoang La and Dinh Hoang Max,
who took Vietnamese citizenship, in the national team jersey.

The two newcomers did their best in the game, with Hoang La getting plenty of
chances to prove his prowess in front of the net.

Olympiacos took their first chance when Kotantinos Mendrinos launched a 30m kick
that hit the bar, threatening the keeper.

Vietnamese trio, skilful midfielder Pham Thanh Luong, Nguyen Viet Thang and Le Cong
Vinh, worked well together, creating opportunities to get closer to wooden box.

But they failed to beat goalie Antonios Nikopolidis, who won the European
Championship in 2004, in the first half. After the break, striker Derbyshire
had three chances to face Vietnam ’s keeper in the minutes of the second half,
but Ukrainian goalie Dinh Hoang La made perfect saves.

In the 83 rd minute left winger Le Tan Tai broke through into penalty area to face
Olympiacos’ keeper Kovac, but his shot bounced of the goalie. Max came in time to
take a shot from rebound, but it wide out the bar.

In the 85 th minute, striker Quang Hai made a break through to face Kovac but his
shot just skimmed the post, missing a goal. But he did not miss his chance three
minutes later when he trapped a cross from Max to turn the ball to the back of net.

The Greek champions also missed a clear opportunity when Derbyshire tapped his
teammate’s cross at the goal mouth, but it went wide.-Enditem