Cong Vinh’s winner earns Olympic team second victory

Captain Le Cong Vinh’s goal in the 75th minute earned the Vietnamese Olympic team the second victory in the second qualifying round of the 2008 Olympic Games as they beat hosts Indonesia 1-0 in the Andi Mattalatta stadium on March 14.
Indonesia’s Dedi Intra came closest to levelling the score as his cross hit the bar.
Olympic Vietnam, with six points, occupied the top spot of Group C for at least some hours, before the end of the match between Oman and Lebanon.
In two weeks time, Olympic Vietnam will have a tough visit to Group C’s favourites, Oman. They will host Indonesia on June 6.
The Vietnamese Olympic team made one change compared with the 2-0 home victory over Lebanon with midfielder Nguyen Vu Phong, who missed the previous match, returning after an injury and taking Chau Phong Hoa’s place.
Determined to win at least one point from their hosts Indonesia, Mai Duc Chung continued to use a 4-4-1-1 formation, with Nguyen Anh Duc as only frontman. Skipper Cong Vinh played behind Anh Duc.
The first opportunity went to the hosts after 16 minutes. Khomad Suharto tested Vietnamese goalie Duc Cuong with a 25 metre powerful low strike, which forced the Vietnamese stopper to make two blocks.
One minute later, Jajang Muliana finished from close range but he was flagged offside.
Coach Mai Duc Chung’s men went close on 20 minutes. Indonesian goalkeeper Roni Triprasnanto fumbled Vu Phong’s cross dropping the ball at the feet of Mai Tien Thanh, who side-netted.
Three minutes later, Anh Duc got the final touch of Minh Chuyen’s cross from the right flank but the ball hit the upper side of the cross bar.
Four minutes from half-time skipper Cong Vinh cut inside before curled the ball over the bar.
The pace reduced in the second half with both Indonesian and Vietnamese players seeming to have tired.
Skipper Cong Vinh, however, continue to shine. The Vietnamese top striker elegantly controlled Vu Phong’s cross, beat centreback Boby Satria before slotting the ball past on-rushing Triprasnanto to break the deadlock.
Olympic Indonesia’s Dedi Intra may have felt unlucky as his cross hit the cross bar.
Some minutes later, Minh Chuyen fell in the penalty box but the referee showed the Vietnamese midfielder a yellow card for diving, instead of indicating a spot kick.
Olympic Vietnam: Goalkeeper Tran Duc Cuong; defenders: Doan Viet Cuong, Mai Xuan Hop, Nguyen Thanh Long Giang and Nguyen Van Bien; midfielders: Nguyen Vu Phong, Nguyen Minh Chuyen, Vo Duy Nam and Mai Tien Thanh; and forwards Le Cong Vinh and Nguyễn Anh Duc.
Olympic Indonesia: Goalkeeper Roni Triprasnanto; defenders: Talijfiq Karsun, Achmad Jlifrianto, Boby Satria and Dedi Intra; midfielders: Khomad Suharto, Hendra Ridwan and Asmad Bustomi; forwards: Choirul Monif, Jajang Muliana

Overseas Vietnamese Players

Duong Thach

Position : Midfielder
Date of birth : 9 December, 1985
Team : Bolton (England)
Nationality : Sweden
Notes : Vietnamese born but became a Swedish youth international. He started at Swedish second division side Gefle but soon trained at European sides such as Ajax, Bolton and Middlesbrough. He interested many Swedish and European sides but eventually chose to sign for Bolton in April 2002.

Two Years Ago

Riedl in search of under-23 players 26/08/05

Austrian coach Alfred Riedl affirmed that although he had signed a three-year contract with the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF), the forthcoming 23rd SEA Games would be a real test for him. If he succeeds, he will stay for two more years. Or else, he will go. To make his plan successful, the Austrian coach will have to work hard to find qualified players for the under-23 team. Hoang Vuong from the Sports Daily writes.
Despite not selecting players for the national team in their first gathering, Mr Riedl asked the VFF to call up half a number of players of the age of under 23. This is because for Vietnamese football, the 23rd SEA Games will be an all-important event this year. And Mr Rield knows that. Therefore, six under-23 players were present in starting XI in the friendly against Czech club, Slavia Prague. These include Harold Huy(Paris XIII),Tran Anh Phuong(Paris XIII), Lee Nguyen(Colorado Rapids), Duong Thach(Bolton Wanderers), Steven Vo(HSV Hambourg) and Van Quyen. After the break, two more under-23 players, Viet Nguyen(DC United) and Tran Anh Duong, went in the field. Mr Riedl had worked with Van Quyen, Steven Vo, Duong Thach and he has a good understanding of them. Therefore, he paid attention to newcomers. On the right wing, Johnny Nguyen played for the whole 90 minutes and rightback from RC Lens failed to produce a good impression as he was good at defending but did not contribute much in the team’s attack. Young central midfielder Matthieu Vinh did not impress in his debut. Playing alongside hisBrother Chris in the centre of the field, Matthieu Vinh did not play well. Vietnamese substitutes Duc Duong and Nhu Thuat did not contribute much.
However, Tran Phuong could be considered as a satisfaction. He was excellent in sweeper despite he was sent off. Scoring with a subtil shoot, he won a lot of points for the future. Playing in the best vietnamese's team in France, when Mr Riedl has seen how more physical he is than the others, his choice was done. And the performance given by his new player was unexpectable. He gives to the country his strenght and physical, what lacked to Vietnam since everytime. We have to remind that he 's already the leader of the U-18 team, which is seen as the future of the Vietnamese football.
The other striker, Lee Nguyen has showed that Vietnamese players can be small and physical. His beautiful free kick can let hope to Vietnam but he has already chosen his team. For him,"USA can give him what Vietnam might never give him..."
Mr Riedl had five more under-23 players, Jim Vinh, Tran Xavier, Huynh Quoc Anh, Kevin Hieu and Xuan Phu. A friendly against Hoa Phat Hanoi on May 4 will be a good opportunity for Mr Riedl to review the first gathering of the national team and 13 under-23 players.
Among 13 under-23 players, Mr Riedl had three strikers, Steven Vo, Viet Nguyen and Van Quyen, and two goalkeeper, Harold Huy and Carlo Von. The team lacks two centrebacks and midfielders. After Huu Thang, the under-23 team has yet to find any excellent centreback. Sonny Hoang, who played with Huu Thanh from the 22nd SEA Games was not called up. Also, Sonny Hoang does not have ability to fill Huu Thang'shoes. Therefore, Mr Riedl will have to find another centreback to replace Huu Thang . This is an uphill task as those players who are regular members of the first team at V-League clubs cannot play for the undser-23 team. Many experts have recommended Minh Duc from PJICO Song Lam Nghe An. However, the player should have to be tested as he often starts the game from the bench.
Mr Riedl has 11 games in the second stage of the national championship/V-League to select players suitable with his plans. Song Da Nam Dinh with many young players may be an address for Mr Riedl. Other players, Tan Tai from Khatoco Khanh Hoa and Anh Duc from East Asia Bank Pomina Steel, are also promising players. Surely not as good and promising than the "europeans" but he had to find solutions if they're not availables.
But this summer will be a excellent test for them to judge their level. The games against FC Arsenal, VLF Wolfsburg and FC Valencia could enable them to show their real potential. Tran Phuong And Co must confirm their talents to make people dream again.
To have time to watch and select players is not only an advantage and a challenge, as well. How will Mr Riedl, who can struggle in selecting players, do to help the under-23 team realise their ‘gold’ dream?

Vietnamese Rising Stars Overseas

Lee Nguyen (born October 7, 1986 in Texas) is a Vietnamese-American soccer midfielder who currently plays for PSV Eindhoven
The winger has represented the U.S. National Team as a member of its youth squads. He was the only high school player to be named in the USA squad for the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship and was named the 2004-05 Gatorade National Boy Soccer Player of the Year. He played one year at Indiana University, before electing to go pro after his freshman year.
After a strong freshman season for Indiana in 2005 and with a number of suitors knocking on his door, he chose to leave school and join PSV, signing a three-and-a-half year contract in January 2006. Former PSV Coach Guus Hiddink, who noticed Nguyen at the World Youth Championships in the Netherlands, groomed the youngster to play wing in his 4-3-3 system. PSV's system is designed to give the wing players unlimited chances to take their defenders one-on-one in the attacking third of the field, making it well suited for Nguyen, who likes beating opposition players in one-on-one situations.
Professional soccer directly after high school was an option Nguyen eschewed, choosing instead to accept a soccer scholarship to Indiana University. Nguyen showed little trouble adjusting to the more physical nature of the college game, playing well from the beginning. Soccer Times and Soccer America both named him their national Freshman of the Year on the strength of his five-goal, 12-assist campaign in autumn of 2005.
Many believe Nguyen will have a positive impact on U.S. soccer in the years to come. According to Columbus Crew coach Sigi Schmid, who coached Nguyen at the World Youth Championships, one of the hardest puzzles for future U.S. coaches to solve will be getting Landon Donovan, DaMarcus Beasley, Clint Dempsey, Bobby Convey and Nguyen all on the field at the same time

Olympic team make good start after 2-0 victory over Lebanon

Two goals by Le Cong Vinh and substitute Huynh Phuc Hiep helped the Vietnamese Olympic team make a good start at the qualifying group stage of the Beijing Olympic Games as they beat Lebanon 2-0 at home in Nam Dinh on February 28.
Cong Vinh converted a spot kick in the first half and Phuc Hiep sealed a 2-0 victory for the hosts one minute from time.
Despite a victory, coach Mai Duc Chung, who replaced coach Alfred Riedl, who returned to Austria to have his kidney transplanted, said: “The Lebanese team were stronger. They lost because they were overconfident.”
“The Vietnamese players did well in counter attack as coaching board had asked them to do before the match,” Mr Chung said about his men.
Meanwhile, captain Cong Vinh, who was the best Vietnamese player in the match, said: “Young players like me wanted to prove ability, even though we have to improve our performances.”
The Vietnamese team started the match with a 4-5-1 formation. Striker Anh Duc was the only frontman. Captain Le Cong Vinh played in the midfield with Nguyen Minh Chuyen, Vo Duy Nam, Mai Tien Thanh and Doan Viet Cuong. Nguyen Van Bien, Nguyen Thanh Long Giang, Mai Xuan Hop and Chau Phong Hoa were back four. Tran Duc Cuong was preferred to To Vinh Loi as goalkeeper.
The Lebanon Olympic team started the game in an aggressive fashion, pushing the Vietnamese all the way. The visitors were dangerous when playing a direct passing game and long distance shots.
In two minutes, H. Salameh had two consecutive opportunities to open the scoring. The Lebanon player’s powerful shot forced a flying save from Duc Cuong and in a resulting corner, Salameh, unmarked, blasted over the bar from just eight metres.
Captain Cong Vinh gave the home side a 1-0 lead after 33 minutes, as he made no mistakes in converting a spot kick, awarded after Al Haf’s handball. The top Vietnamese striker coolly found the right net, sending goalkeeper H. Moughnieh to a wrong way.
Boosted by Cong Vinh’s opener, the Vietnamese side gave the demoralised Lebanese defence a tough time before half time.
After the break, the Lebanese team made a change with H. Darwich coming for M.Hammoud and they had an opportunity when goalie Duc Cuong made a mistake, failing to block a cross from the left flank, but Z. Charara finished over the bar.
Leftback Van Bien came close in the 65th minute. Playing one-tow with Duy Nam, Van Bien fooled Lebanese centreback El Khodor but sidenetted.
Striker Anh Duc wasted two good opportunities in counter attacks before went out on the stretcher. Young star Huynh Phuc Hiep was brought on for Anh Duc. Earlier, Dong Huy Thai had come in for Minh Chuyen.
Seven minutes from time, goalkeeper Duc Cuong made a good save to deny substitute El Helwi, who rose in the air to head in a corner kick.
In the final minutes, Lebanon put heavy pressure on the Vietnamese defence. However, the hosts not only held off Lebanon’s attacks and but also extended the lead. Captain Cong Vinh pinpointed a long ball for Phuc Hiep, who slotted the ball past goalkeeper Moughnieh to the far corner.
The victory will be a great boost for the Vietnamese Olympic team as they have two away games on March 14 to meet Indonesia and March 28 to face Oman before returning home to host Oman on April 18.