Viet Nam have a fair chance of making it to the final when they take on hosts and strong contenders Indonesia in the semifinal of the Southeast Asia Games football today, former national defender Tran Cong Minh has said.
HCM CITY —
The match promises to be exhilarating and unpredictable since both teams are offensive-minded and fairly well matched. Indonesia scored 11 goals in their three group games while unbeaten Viet Nam scored 18 goals in five.
"Indonesia clearly have an advantage over Viet Nam since they will play at home in front of tens of thousands of fans," the former national team assistant coach admitted.
| U23s receive large bonus after group round win HA NOI — The Viet Nam Football Federation (VFF) has decided to award a bonus of VND1 billion (US$50,000) to the U23 football team for topping Group B at the SEA Games in Indonesia. Viet Nam achieved four wins and one draw to finish on 13 points. In the semi-final tomorrow, they will play hosts Indonesia who finished second in Group A. VFF Chairman Nguyen Trong Hy also announced that the team would receive a further $50,000 if they made it to the final. Before leaving for the Games, the U23s were promised at least $1 million from companies and enterprises if they bought home the gold medal. This amount did not include any bonus awarded by the VFF. |
"Indonesia could put a lot of pressure on Viet Nam but I believe Viet Nam have enough quality players to counter-attack and find the goal."
U23s receive large bonus after group round win
HA NOI — The Viet Nam Football Federation (VFF) has decided to award a bonus of VND1 billion (US$50,000) to the U23 football team for topping Group B at the SEA Games in Indonesia.
Viet Nam achieved four wins and one draw to finish on 13 points.
In the semi-final tomorrow, they will play hosts Indonesia who finished second in Group A.
VFF Chairman Nguyen Trong Hy also announced that the team would receive a further $50,000 if they made it to the final.
Before leaving for the Games, the U23s were promised at least $1 million from companies and enterprises if they bought home the gold medal. This amount did not include any bonus awarded by the VFF.
Viet Nam will not have the services of top defender Nguyen Thanh Long Giang, who has been suspended after being red-carded in the final group match against Laos.
"It is a substantial loss without Giang in defence but the other defenders will do the job," Minh said.
He pinned his hopes on midfielders Pham Thanh Luong, Nguyen Trong Hoang and Nguyen Van Quyet, and strikers Le Van Thang and Nguyen Dinh Tung.
"The skillful and experienced captain Luong, leading scorer Quyet, and Hoang can decide the match," Minh said, predicting a very tight score line.
Malaysia and Myanmar, who were unbeaten in the group stages, will play in the other semifinal the same day.
Defending champions Malaysia are clear favourites against Myanmar, who won a silver in 2007 but crashed out in 2009. — VNS