Newspaper Review 2

Aritcle: Vietnam wins AFF Suzuki Cup
Date: 28 December 2008

Match Details:
As the title of the newspaper article say Vietnam have won thee AFF Suzuki Cup after winning on a aggregate score line of 3-2 goals against Thailand. The underdogs of the competition were up against the favourites and 3 time champions and yet against all odds won on home soil at the My Dinh Stadium in Hanoi. The first leg of this match happened in Thailand where the Thaïs were defeated by the surprising score of 2-1. Even with home ground advantage Thailand conceded 2 goals to Vietnam in just a span of three minutes. Vietnam’s first goal came off the head of Nguyen Vu Phong in the 42nd minute and two minutes later, their star striker Le Cong Vinh finally scored his first goal of the championship. Thailand managed to narrow the deficit in the second half off a header by substitute Ronnachai Rangsiyo with his first touch of the ball in the 75th minute. His goal needed a lucky deflection off the boot of the Vietnamese keeper after his header had moments earlier bounced off the post. Thailand thought they had evened the score but assistant referee made a wrong call saying that the player was offside. The score line remained that way till the final whistle blew.

With a psychological advantage over their opponents, Vietnam went back home to prepare for the second leg. The second leg started with Thailand dominating the 1st half but Vietnam trying to come back quickly with their counter attacks that they are so famous for. It was Thailand who was first award with the gaol at the 20 minute in the form of a header by Teerasil Dangda. The match played on the some way till half time. The second half was a little different than the 1st. the Thaïs seemed lethargic with their sloppy passing. Yet, they were taking shot s from outside the penalty box that would have made contact with the back of the net if it had not been for the brilliant skill of goal keeping displayed by the Vietnamese gaol keeper. The Vietnamese players on the other hand seemed to try their best to spark their counter attacks but to no avail as the Thaïs were all over them. They were consistently trying to make things happen they way they were playing on the pitch. So much so that during the last 10 minutes or so they seemed exhausted. It seemed like it was going to extra time and possibly penalties as the referee added on injury time of 4 minutes. The Vietnamese were awarded a free kick to the left of the box just as time was going to run out. Vietnamese skipper Phan Tan Vai Em took the free kick and Cong Vinh, Vietnam’s most expensive player glanced it in past a static Thai keeper. Celebrations were all around the stadium as the Vietnam home crowd celebrated the victory of their national side winning their very 1st AFF Suzuki Cup. Previous winner include only Singapore and Thailand.


Reflection
I stayed up to watch this match during the night that it was telecasted live on channel 5. It seemed that Thailand would win this match if it came down to penalties or even extra time due to their brilliant offense. Being neutral territory I was just enjoying a good game of football. Yet you will still sort of support a side that you feel is supposedly weaker. Through out the match I was on the edge of my seat as both the teams went at goal with all they had. With that last minute goal I was very amazed but I feel that Vietnam were very lucky and the goal it self was a very lucky one but hey who am I to judge what was lucky or not as it was not I who was on the pitch. This match has taught me something that I feel that I can incorporate into whatever I do is that the ball is round anything can happen.

-Justin-