Courtesy: AFF Official Web Site


AFF FUTSAL: Vietnam exact sweet revenge to book place in final

April 25, 2012

BANGKOK (25 April 2012) – Vietnam exacted sweet revenge when they beat a mostly Under-21 side from Indonesia 5-3 to book their place in the final of the AFF Futsal Championship 2012 here at the Bangkok Thonburi Stadium.

The same Vietnamese side was denied a place in the recent AFC Futsal Championship when they lost to Indonesia 2-1 after extra time in the semi-final. But this time round, the script was different as Vietnam took a 2-1 lead at the half before scoring three further goals after the breather for the win.

“We were a little bit nervous as this was the same venue we lost to Indonesia in the AFC semi-final stage,” said Sergio Gargelli, the chief coach of Vietnam. “But overall , the team played really well and now we look forward to the final game.”

Putting pressure from the get go, Indonesia pushed Vietnam into their own half for much of the opening quarter. They created several chances on a trot but pivots Septian Cahya and Syahidansyah Lubis just could not find the right touch for the finish.

Their best chance at the start came in the tenth minute but with only keeper Dang Phuoc Anh to beat, skipper Randhyas Bahri just could not make it count. That failure to score pushed Vietnam into the attack and barely three minutes later, Nguyen Trong Thien nailed the opening goal from inside the D.

Indonesia refused to back down and they were quick to utilize an opening two minutes later for Karami Balfas to score off his off-trademark effort from long range which had Phuoc Anh rooted.

But it would be Vietnam who went into the break ahead when Bui Van Thang capitalized on a defensive lapse to score from close range with five minutes left of the first half.

With their noses in front, Vietnam pegged down their game somewhat in the second half as Indonesia tried hard to break down the defensive wall in search of the equalizer. And while Vietnam seemed certain that they will be able to hold out for the win, Indonesia’s persistency bore fruit in the 31st minute when Syahidansyah turned his marker Trong Thien to slam home the second goal.

Rattled, Vietnam fought back looking for the goal and they did not have to wait too long where in the 34th minute, Nguyen Hoang Giang restored their lead before Nguyen Quoc Bao (37th) then capitalized on an error from an Indonesian power play.

With the score at 4-2, Quoc Bao added further misery on Indonesia with Vietnam’s fifth goal of the afternoon on 39th minute. Not even a late strike from Indonesia’s Bambang Saptaji could deny Vietnam their place in the final in two days.

“We should not have lost this game,” lamented Justinus Lhaksana, the chief coach of Indonesia. “We should have made good on the several chances we created in the first half. “



Courtesy: AFF Official Web Site


AFF FUTSAL: Thais romp past Malaysia for final date

April 25, 2012

BANGKOK (25 April 2012) – The result was really beyond contention where the onus was on Malaysia to keep it respectable. But in the end, hosts Thailand were just too good for the visitors when they romped to a 12-1 win in the second semi-final of the AFF Futsal Championship 2012 here at the BangkokThonburi Stadium.

With the victory the seven times champions will take on Vietnam, who had earlier beaten defending champions Indonesia 5-3, in the final that will be played in two days.

“There are just too much talent in this team, so it was always going to be tough for the Malaysians to beat us,” said Vic Hermans, the chief coach of Thailand after the match.

Once again, the trickery of Supahwut Thueanklang was the driving force in Thailand’s win when he struck the first blow in the very first minute of play to give the several thousand fans something to cheer.

From then on, the Thais never looked back as the Malaysians rarely ventured forward for the home team to score through Jirawat Sornwich (5th minute), Nattawut Madyalan (9th), Suphawut (13th and 20th), Jetsada Chudech (15th and 17th) and Kritsada Wongkaeo (19th).

The score at the half was 8-0 to Thailand.

The Malaysians tightened up their game somewhat after the break but Thailand were just too efficient as they added four more goals off Suphawut (26th and 28th minute), Kritsada Wongkaeo (26th) and Nattawut (38th) for the final scoreline.

Malaysia’s only goal of the game came from Qaiser Abdul Kadir in the 35th minute.

“It was a good experience for some of the newcomers and they can only learn from this defeat against a world class team,” added Maizal Marzuki, the chief coach of Malaysia.




Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com