VN wins AFF championship
VGP – Việt Nam won the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup 2008 on Sunday after holding a 1-1 draw with the three-times champion Thailand in the second leg in Hà Nội. This is the first time Việt Nam has stepped onto the highest stage of the regional championship for decades.
|
|
|
The Vietnamese team – Photo: VNN |
During the first half of the match in Hà Nội, the guest players scored a set-piece goal with a header by Teerasil Dangda at the 21st minute.
|
|
|
Vietnamese PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng confers the Cup to Vietnamese team |
With the match tied 2-2 on aggregate and seconds away from extra time, the game was likely to go to extra time, but Thailand failed to keep their edge over the hosts.
|
|
|
This is the first time Việt Nam steps onto the highest stage of the regional championship for decades – Photo: VNN |
Mỹ Đình Stadium exploded in the last minute as Vietnamese striker Công Vinh leapt high above the Thai defense to head Nguyễn Minh Phương's free kick into Thailand’s net to draw the game at 1-1, making Việt Nam the new champion in the region.
In the first leg of the final in Bangkok on Christmas Eve, the Thai team trailed Việt Nam 2-1.
With the aggregate score of 3-2, Việt Nam beat its traditional rival to clinch the Southeast Asian championship for the first time.
|
|
|
Local fans thronged the streets into the night to celebrate the victory - Ảnh VNN |
Local fans thronged the streets into the night to celebrate the much-expected victory.
By Hoàng Nguyên
