AFF Cup: Vietnam perform impressively, Philippines shock Singapore

Striker Nguyen Anh Duc, who was called up from the Olympic team in the last minute after the Asian Games in China late November, scored twice. Substitute midfielder Nguyen Trong Hoang did the same.

Captain Nguyen Minh Phuong, and midfielders Le Tan Tai and Nguyen Vu Phong fired for the home side each in the tennis-score match, the first game of the holders.

The reigning champions played aggressively right in the beginning of the game that followed the earlier match where Singapore lost two points in the injury time as Philippine striker Chris Greatwich equalized 1-1 for his side.

The all-red Vietnamese players were present all places in the field, making Myanmar stretch their defense system. Striker Anh Duc opened the fire for the home side in the 13th minute with a rapid finish from close range after a captain Phuong shot.

Myanmar reacted immediately. Striker Aung Kyaw Moe found a slot from the edge of the penalty area, in the middle of Vietnamese central defenders Vu Nhu Thanh and Le Phuoc Tu, and equalized with a high strike beyond keeper Duong Hong Son’s hands.

Skipper Phuong pushed his home side ahead again with a direct kick from the edge of penalty box by curling the ball over the Myanmar wall and out of reach of the keeper.

All-white Myanmar started the second half by playing high, thus leaving lots of room behind them. Le Tan Tai easily scored to widen the gap to 3-1 after from a convenient cross by Pham Thanh Luong.

Then in the 66th minute, Nguyen Vu Phong crossed the ball into the box for striker Anh Duc to beat the Myanmar keeper with a header.

Vietnam striker Nguyen Anh Duc (L) celebrates after scoring with a header a goal as Myanmar goalkeeper Thiha Si Thu falls down at their match in Hanoi on December 2 (AFP photo)

Substitute midfielder Nguyen Trong Hoang scored two goals in a row within 10 minutes. Vu Phong wrapped up with a close-range finish in the injury time.

In the earlier game, seemingly evergreen striker Aleksandar Duric netted for Singapore in the 65th minute but the Philippines’ England-born midfielder Chris Greatwich equalized 1-1 for his side in the injury time.

Philippines players celebrate after equalizing against Singapore. AFP

Vietnam took the lead of Group B of the ASEAN championships. They will play the Philippines Sunday while Singapore will take on Myanmar.