Asian Cup Q: Doha dream over for Vietnam
VIETNAM’s slim hopes of reaching the 2011 AFC Asian Cup ended on Wednesday as Henrique Calisto’s side shared a 1-1 draw with Lebanon in a Group D match at Saida Municipal Stadium.
Lebanon took the lead after 20 minutes through Mahmoud El Ali with a first-time volley from inside the area before Pham Thanh Luong levelled the scores for Vietnam in the 40th minute.
Thanh Luong then missed a glorious chance to claim a dramatic late winner as the home side held on for their first point of the campaign.
Lebanon began the game well and controlled proceedings for the opening 20 minutes before they eventually opened the scoring.
Midfielder Ali El Atat knocked in a free kick from the left which lanky striker El Ali met with a powerful volley that found the back of the net via the woodwork.
The goal seemed to spur Vietnam into life as they pressed for an immediate reply and Le Tan Tai went close six minutes later with a useful strike that flew just wide of the left upright.
Lebanon came close to doubling their advantage in the 31st minute when Hassan Matouk drove into the area but was unfortunate to see his powerful strike smack the post.
However, Vietnam equalised five minutes before the break when Thanh Luong smartly controlled the ball on the edge of the area before firing a left foot shot beyond Elias Freije and into the far corner.
Vietnam came close to a second goal two minutes later when substitute midfielder Phan Thanh Hung struck an effort from distance that rose just over the crossbar as the first half ended one apiece.
The tempo of the encounter dropped in the second period. Nguyen Vu Phong saw a decent effort turned behind by Freije for a corner on the hour mark and Lebanon threatened two minutes later when El Ali broke into the box bit shot wide.
Vietnam continued to pressure the hosts throughout the second 45 minutes but they failed to create any clear chances as the Lebanon defence held out admirably.
However, the visitors should have claimed the points with two minutes remaining when Lebanon goalkeeper Freije failed to clear a cross and the ball fell to Thanh Luong but he somehow missed the target with the goal at his mercy.
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