Phu Tho: Vietnam progressed to the knockout stage of the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup™ 2024 as Group B winners after defeating Myanmar 5-0 in their final group match at Viet Tri Stadium on Saturday.
A double from Nguyen Xuan Son on his Vietnam debut and goals from Bui Vi Hao, Nguyen Quang Hai and Nguyen Tien Linh secured the win for the two-time winners as they set up a semi-final clash against four-time champions Singapore.
Vietnam, who are yet to lose a competitive fixture against Myanmar, dominated the opening stages with Xuan Son hitting the side netting only four minutes into his international debut.
Xuan Son continued to create problems for Myanmar’s defence and shouts for a penalty were turned down in the 12th minute when his headed effort was blocked in front of the goal by Lat Wai Phone while his low header four minutes later flashed across the goal.
Nguyen Dinh Trieu had a quiet 90 minutes in the Vietnam goal but was tested in the 20th minute by Ye Yint Aung with a shot from distance in a rare foray forward by the visitors.
Meanwhile, the hosts continued to turn the screw at the other end as an unmarked Vi Hao failed to wrap his foot around a Nguyen Van Toan cross in the 26th minute before Xuan Son’s shot from the edge of the box whistled past Pyae Phyo Thu’s goal seven minutes later.
Kim Sang-sik’s side then hit the woodwork twice in the space of three minutes as Nguyen Hoang Duc’s header from Truong Tien Anh’s corner rattled the goalpost in the 33rd minute and moments later, Quang Hai’s free-kick from 22 yards struck the same post.
Vietnam goalkeeper Dinh Trieu had to parry away a powerful shot from Myanmar midfielder Wai Lin Aung who tried his luck from the centre circle in the 44th minute.
Xuan Son then wrestled past two Myanmar defenders before playing in the overlapping Nguyen Van Vi inside the box, but the Vietnam wing-back failed to hit the target in the added time as the first half ended goalless.
But the home side went ahead only three minutes after the restart through Vi Hao. Xuan Son flicked a ball onto Van Toan whose volley was parried by Pyae Phyo Thu only as far as Xuan Son who squared it for Vi Hao to tap home from close range and make it 1-0.
Xuan Son finally wrote his name into the scoresheet in the 54th minute when he rolled home after being picked out by Nguyen Thanh Chung for a debut international goal.
Quang Hai then trapped a cross from Ho Tan Tai from the right wing near the edge of the box before firing it into the goal to extinguish any remaining Myanmar hopes of a semi-final berth in the 74th minute.
Six minutes later, Vi Hao had a goal ruled out for a marginal offside by the VAR after he knocked the ball in off the rebound from an initial Xuan Son effort that was saved by Pyae Phyo Thu.
Xuan Son continued to work tirelessly and was rewarded with a second goal in the 90th minute before Tien Linh came off the bench to seal the 5-0 win and finish with a goal and an assist.
Vietnam will now face Group A runners-up Singapore in the two-legged semi-finals on 26 and 29 December while reigning champions Thailand will face the Philippines, who pipped Indonesia to second place in Group B, in the other last-four tie.
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