HO CHI MINH CITY (2 Sept 2012) –
Iran denied Vietnam further reasons to celebrate their National Day today when they beat the hosts 2-1 in the second game of the first match day of the AFF Under-19 Preparatory Tournament here at the Thong Nhat Stadium.
Today marked the 65th year of Vietnam’s independence.
But at the Thong Nhat Stadium, Iran would prove that they mean business as barely into the first minute of play, striker Sardar Azmoun blasted in the lead for the visitors from the edge of the box.
With the fans barely into their seat and the home team still looking to settle down, the early goal certainly did not sit well with their plans.
They tried hard to get back into the game but found Iran’s physique too hard to break down as play was restricted to mostly in the middle of the park.
In the 33rd minute, the game went up a notch as after a long cross from the back, Behnam Barzay ran in with the ball before putting it past Vietnam keeper Nguyen Son Hai.
Two goals down and with nowhere else to go but forward, Vietnam soon strung passes together and as Iran became more brazen, the hosts finally scored their first goal in the game just before the break.
Off a long cross from Dao Duy Khanh, striker Phan Dinh Thang chipped the ball over the oncoming Iran keeper Hojjat Sedghi – much to the jubilation of the several thousand fans.
The second half was very much a carbon copy of the first with Vietnam more on the counter-attack to get the better of their much taller opponents. But with them unable to hold the ball for long periods, the loss of possessions was telling to their overall effort.
Iran’s best chance after the break came in the 67th minute but Azmoun totally fumbled his try while ten minutes to the end, Vietnam’s chance for an equalizer was denied by Hojjat.
The Next match for Iran U19 will be on the 4th September against Uzbekistan who beat Australia 2-1 in the forst match.