mardi 6 mars 2007

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.

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