The door to the 2012 AFF Suzuki Cup semifinal has seemingly shut for Vietnam after their 0 – 1 defeat to the Philippines in the Group A second round at Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok on Tuesday. Team coach Phan Thanh Hung was shocked when Filipino striker Caligdong netted the sole goal at the 86th minute, ending what is being considered the worst-ever game of the Vietnamese players. Host Thailand meanwhile trounced Myanmar 4 – 0 in the other Tuesday game, becoming the first team to clinch a spot in the semifinal with six points after two matches. Vietnam thus dropped to third place with only 1 point from their 1 – 1 draw with Myanmar last weekend, while the latter team is at the bottom due to a worse goal difference than Vietnam.

The Philippines’ coach was not on the bench during the match after being banned by the organizers, but his assistants did well while standing in. Their goal was both assisted and scored by two substitute players who had entered the game with 20 minutes remaining, while the two strikers Vietnam’s coach substituted in to fortify their attack failed to take effect. “This is the worst-ever match under my regime,” coach Hung admitted at the post-match press conference. “We deserve the loss.” Vietnam is now likely to end their journey in the group state of the championship, as only a slight chance for them to reach the semifinal remains. The team must beat Thailand in their last match on November 30, while the Philippines would have to lose to Myanmar. The Group B second round will start today with matches between host Malaysia and Laos, and Indonesia and Singapore.