Vientiane: The 2022 runners-up Vietnam began their ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup™ 2024 campaign strongly with a 4-1 win over Laos at National Stadium KM16 on Monday.
After a goalless first half, the deadlock was eventually broken in the 58th minute through Nguyen Hai Long before a second was added almost immediately through Nguyen Tien Linh just after the hour mark.
A third came not long after with Nguyen Van Toan aqdding his name to the scoresheet, then a fourth on 82 minutes from Nguyen Van Vi. A late Bounphachan Bounkong penalty provided scant consolation for Laos.
Vietnam had their first look on goal after only three minutes played following a superb ball over the top by Nguyen Hoang Duc into the channel for Truong Tien Anh to run onto. The ball was sent toward the six-yard box where Bui Vi Hao tried to steer goalward, but goalkeeper Xaysavath Xaysavath pulled off a couple of saves.
Laos’ first attempt came on six minutes when the ball landed at the feet of Bounphachan, lashing a left-footed half-volley but his attempt at the spectacular went wide. The hosts came even closer on 21 minutes, Bounphachan again but this time at the near post.
Vietnam’s modus operandi, meanwhile, was to get the ball into the channels. It had allowed them to get in behind Laos on a number of occasions and Xaysavath’s goal had lived a charmed life in the first half.
But Team Xat had defended resolutely, putting their bodies on the line to get blocks and last-ditch tackles in. Despite 11 attempts on goal and five on target in the first 45 minutes, Vietnam just could not find a breakthrough and the two sides went in at the break level.
Laos recorded their first shot on target five minutes into the second half. Phathana Phommathep broke free and found space in the box but goalkeeper Nguyen Dinh Trieu was equal to it.
A goal did come eventually with Vietnam breaking the deadlock on 58 minutes, Hai Long with an emphatic volley into the top corner after latching onto a wicked Bui Tien Dung ball over the top from deep.
Nguyen Hai Long SMASHES it in 🔥#MitsubishiElectricCup#ASEANUtdFC pic.twitter.com/5g1xsLLuZe
— ASEAN United FC (@aseanutdfc) December 9, 2024
Vietnam’s second goal soon followed. A mistake by Laos defender Phetdavanh Somsanid allowed Tien Linh to carry the ball toward goal before expertly finding the bottom corner.
On 68 minutes, Vietnam found a third. This time with Van Toan springing the offside trap before rounding the goalkeeper. In just a 10-minute spell, having spent most of the first hour knocking at the door, Vietnam eventually found a way in.
Goal number four came on 81 minutes, a thunderous half-volley, driven low from the edge of the box by substitute Van Vi, reacting quickest to a half-cleared corner. Vietnam had found another gear and were excellent throughout.
A 🚀 from Nguyen Van Vi #MitsubishiElectricCup #ASEANUtdFC pic.twitter.com/VyKuJACGaU
— ASEAN United FC (@aseanutdfc) December 9, 2024
A late VAR check led to a spot-kick being given to Laos for a chance to find a consolation goal. Duy Manh fouled Bounphachan which led to the referee pointing to the spot. Up stepped Bounphachan to covert to make it 4-1 in the 95th minute.
It was coach Kim Sang-sik’s second win from six games in charge, and first in a competitive match. Kim’s opposite number and fellow Korean Ha Hyeok-jun was overseeing his first competitive match as Laos boss but will have to wait for a first victory.
Up next for Laos is Indonesia in Surakarta on Thursday while for Vietnam a clash with Indonesia also awaits but in Viet Tri on December 15.
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