Vietnam loses Malaysia for repeatedly missing chances

After wasting many clear chances, the Vietnamese national U-23 football team had to accept a 2-1 loss to Malaysia in the last match in group A on Tuesday and bow out of the 27th SEA Games held in Myanmar.

To their credit, Vietnam controlled the middle area of the field well, made better possession of the ball and created many chances; despite losing by scoring fewer goals than their rivals.

There were two factors that prevented Vietnam from driving the ball into the Malaysian frame – the outstanding performance of Malaysian keeper Mohd Farhan and the clumsiness of Vietnamese players on approaching the rival frame.

Farhan refused three clear chances set up by Vietnamese strikers Manh Hung in the 28th minute, Van Quyet in the 46th minute, and Van Thang in the 64th minute. Van Quyet had many other chances but shot wide.

Vietnam’s situation was that they could only advance with a win over Malaysia, unfortunately, the team were absorbed by launching waves of attack and left their defense wide open, creating chances for Malaysia to counter-attack.

Two Malaysian goals by Ashri Chuchu in the 82nd minute and Saarvindran in the 90th minute were scored thanks to the aforementioned open defence.

In the 94th minute, Mac Hong Quan shortened the gap to 1-2 – a goal of consolation.

Vietnam’s coach Hoang Van Phuc admitted his loss and sent his apology to fans for his failure to help the team advance. In the mean time, coach Ong Kim Swee of Malaysia said his team deserved the victory.

The loss of the men’s U-23 football team at the SEA Games was actually predicted before the start of the tournament because of a recent poor youth training plan from the Vietnam Football Federation.

Vietnamese fans will now have to wait two more years for the SEA Games in 2015, when players of the ‘first batch’ of the football academy Hoang Anh Gia Lai – Arsenal JMG graduate will play.