Vietnam set up a semifinal showdown with Indonesia as Group B winners at the 2022 AFF Cup after a 3-0 victory over Myanmar in their last group-stage game in Hanoi on Tuesday evening.
Before the game started, both teams spent a moment of silence in memory of Brazilian football legend Pele, who passed away last week.
Vietnam looked poised for the last four with an early goal just eight minutes into the game.
Nguyen Van Quyet conjured up a brilliant assist for Pham Tuan Hai to tap in, but before Hai could touch the ball, Zin Lwin scored an own goal.
Vietnam’s goalkeeper Dang Van Lam and defense line almost brought the match back to the start by making grave mistakes in just a few minutes with wrong positioning and careless passes.
However, the Myanmar players failed to convert those chances.
The hosts doubled the lead in the 27th minute when Myanmar keeper Tun Nanda Oo could not catch the ball cleanly from Doan Van Hau’s cross, leaving Nguyen Tien Linh with an easy job.
A Myanmar player makes a header in their last group-stage game against Vietnam at the 2022 AFF Cup in Hanoi, January 3, 2023. Photo: Hoang Tung / Tuoi Tre |
Vietnam made two substitutions and Myanmar replaced one player after the break.
From a counter-attack in the 72nd minute, young striker Chau Ngoc Quang scored a screamer from outside the box to make it 3-0 for the hosts.
Despite the lead, Vietnam kept the same pace with fast counter-attacks and high pressing.
The hosts held on to the 3-0 score to advance to the semifinals as the winners of Group B.
Their opponents will be Indonesia, the runners-up of Group A.
Group A winners Thailand and Malaysia, who beat Singapore 4-1 in the same-time match to claim Group B’s second spot, will compete in the other semifinal game.
The semifinals of the 2022 AFF Cup will be played on January 6 and 9 on a home-and-away basis.
The final will be held over two legs on January 13 and 16.
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