Vietnam start AFF Suzuki Cup 2020 with 2-0 win over Laos

Vietnamese players celebrate their first victory at the 2020 AFF Championship. (Photo by Leo Shengwei/vnexpress)

Hanoi – Two goals scored by Nguyen Cong Phuong and Phan Van Duc helped Vietnam secure their first win in the opening match of Group B at the AFF Suzuki Cup 2020 in Singapore on December 6 night.

In the third minute, Vietnam's Phan Van Duc got a header but it went wide.

Five minutes later, Souk Aphone Vongchiengkham of Laos made a very dangerous tackle on Van Duc and got a yellow card.

In the 11th minute, Luong Xuan Truong tried his luck for Vietnam with a shot from long distance and it almost went in.

In the 26th minute, Nguyen Hoang Duc opened an accurate long pass to the left flank for Nguyen Phong Hong Duy and he passed inside the box for Nguyen Cong Phuong, who got an easy tap-in, opening the score for Vietnam.

In the 31st minute, Billy Ketkeophomphone took a close-range freekick for Laos but it lacked power and accuracy. Billy is Laos's biggest hope who is playing for French club Dunkerque.

In the second added minute, Hoang Duc shot from a long distance, but for a left-footed player like him, taking a shot with his right foot is not a good option.

Vietnam took the lead after the first 45 minutes with a goal of Cong Phuong.

In the 55th minute, Ho Tan Tai crossed from the right flank for Phan Van Duc to head it in for Vietnam.

In the 63rd minute, Nguyen Thanh Chung received a yellow for tackling Vongchiengkham, giving a freekick for Laos.

Ketkeophomphone got a header from the freekick, but keeper Tran Nguyen Manh caught it easily.

In the 72nd minute, a Lao player received a yellow card for handball inside the box and a penalty was awarded to Vietnam. However, Vu Van Thanh failed to convert the penalty as Laos keeper Souvannasangso made a good save.

In the 85th minute, a corner put Van Thanh in a convenient position to take a volley, but once again it was denied by keeper Souvannasangso.

With this win, Vietnam made a good start at the AFF Suzuki Cup 2020 before playing against Malaysia and Indonesia in the next matches.