Cong Phuong explodes, U23 Vietnam defeats U23 Timor Leste in 'water battle'

(Baonghean.vn) - Before U23 Timor Leste played quite poorly, coach Nguyen Huu Thang and his team had a favorable start in the 2018 U23 Asia qualifiers.

Match highlights:

To win a ticket to the AFC U23 Championship, the best way is for Vietnam U23 to become one of the five second-placed teams with the best results. Therefore, Vietnam U23 must win big against Timor Leste and Macau to gain an advantage.

In a match played on a pitch with too many puddles, both U23 Vietnam and U23 Timor Leste had an extremely difficult first half. All tactics and calculations failed because the players could not handle the ball as they wanted.

Striker Ha Duc Chinh brought an early advantage to U23 Vietnam in the first minutes of the match. Photo: Duc Dong

Despite being underestimated, U23 Timor Leste were the ones who had the first dangerous opportunity in the 5th minute. Player number 15 of U23 Timor Leste had a decisive shot in the penalty area, defeating goalkeeper Tien Dung who was helpless. However, luck was on the side of U23 Vietnam when the ball stopped right in a puddle right in front of the goal line.

Having more possession of the ball and after a few missed chances, U23 Vietnam finally got the opening goal in the 17th minute. From a chaotic situation in front of the opponent's goal, striker Ha Duc Chinh quickly seized the opportunity to decisively finish in the penalty area.

After Van Thanh threatened the U23 Timor Leste goal, it was Adelino's turn to have a dangerous shot from the penalty area but the ball went just wide of the goal. If they had been luckier in the last minute of the first half, U23 Vietnam could have doubled the gap from a corner kick. Unfortunately, the U23 Timor Leste goalkeeper dived in time to control the situation. At this time, coach Nguyen Huu Thang took Van Toan out and replaced him with Lam Ti Phong.

At the end of the first half, U23 Vietnam temporarily led 1-0 against U23 Timor Leste. The referee showed 3 yellow cards to Ha Duc Chinh, Vu Van Thanh and Gaudencio Monteiro.

In the second half, the rain in Ho Chi Minh City began to stop and coach Nguyen Huu Thang's players started to play much better than in the first 45 minutes. Hong Duy, Tuan Anh and Hoang Van Khanh were given good opportunities by Cong Phuong but they could not take advantage of them. In particular, Hong Duy's shot with his weaker foot and Van Khanh's high jump header that went wide of the post in the 62nd minute left many regrets.

In the 64th minute, it was Tuan Anh's turn to create an opportunity for Cong Phuong, but the HAGL striker's close-range header lacked the necessary power and danger. At this moment, Quang Hai was sent onto the field by coach Nguyen Huu Thang to replace Hong Duy to help U23 Vietnam create more breakthroughs.

Striker Nguyen Cong Phuong made coach Huu Thang and fans satisfied with 2 goals. Photo: Duc Dong

Immediately after Quang Hai entered the field, he left his mark on the second goal for U23 Vietnam, scored by Cong Phuong. In the 66th minute, from a corner kick by his teammate, Cong Phuong handled it neatly, fired a long-range shot past the Timor Leste goalkeeper, raising the score to 2-0.

Not only scoring, Cong Phuong also brought home a penalty for the home team in the 71st minute and he was the player who took it. On the 11m mark, the striker born in 1995 made no mistake to get a double goal for himself.

In the last 20 minutes, U23 Vietnam continuously pressed the field and in the 80th minute, Lam Ti Phong's volley almost brought the 4th goal for the home team. His shot was blocked by a Timor Leste player right on the goal line.

The opponent of U23 Vietnam had no choice but to retreat to their home field to defend. In the 87th minute, this time Tuan Anh was the one who brought home the next goal. From a dribble on the left wing, a step past the opponent and a technical finish, Tuan Anh set the score at 4-0 for U23 Vietnam with an extremely beautiful goal from outside the penalty area.

Before the final whistle, U23 Vietnam still created some dangerous shots, but that was enough for a good match for coach Nguyen Huu Thang and his team against U23 Timor Leste.

Trung Kien