VietNamNet Bridge – Nguyen Van Quyet scored the only goal in the Ha Noi T&T's 1-0 victory over Selangor of Malaysia during the Asian Football Confederation Cup encounter in the capital yesterday, March 19.

Ha Noi T&T midfielder Nguyen Van Quyet (left) vies for a ball against Selangor forward Abdul Hadi Bin Yahaya during their AFC Cup's Group F match. T&T win 1-0.

It was his fifth goal of the tournament as he continues his run as the leading goal scorer in the tournament.

With three wins from three matches, the hosts secured three more points. They rank first in the group F, followed by Arema Indonesia with four points and Selangor is placed third in the points table with two points.

The wet field posed a major challenge for the players of both sides during the match.

However, the host team demonstrated their superior skills and overshadowed Selangor throughout the match.

T&T striker Samson Kayode Olaley tested Selangor's goalkeeper Farizal Marlias in the fourth minute of the match. However, his kick from three yards distance went wide.

It was not Samson's day yesterday as he missed at least five opportunities to open the score.

On the other side, the visitors only depended on midfielder Junior and striker Paulo. When the duo were neutralised, they could not do anything.

The only goal of the match was scored in the 52nd minute.

Samson could not score the goal himself and provided a perfect pass to Quyet in the box. The national U23 team member easily converted the opportunity and scored his fifth goal of the tournament.

Quyet had scored a hattrick in the first group round match against Maziya Sports & Recreation on February 25 and scored another goal in the second match versus Arema Indonesia about two weeks later.

In fact, Selangor also had their chance in the ninth and 40th minute, but their players failed to capitalise.

Local goalie Nguyen Van Cong also worked hard to defend his goal in the last quarter.

"We had several threatening chances, but my players wasted the opportunities. However, I am satisfied with the third win in a row. I think that Selangor could have taken one point with a draw if they were lucky. We will continue playing well in the upcoming matches and will qualify for the knock-out round," claimed Coach Phan Thanh Hung of T&T at the post-match conference.

While Coach Mehmet Durakovic regretted that his team could not score a single goal in this game. He said T&T's keeper played really well and saved the hosts from a draw.

In another match of the group, Arema Indonesia beat Maziya Sports & Recreation 3-1.

On Tuesday, another Vietnamese club Ninh Binh also pocketed their third win to top the Group G.

"In this year's AFC Cup, both T&T and Ninh Binh have shown ambition of going further and as both have had a good start. It is the first time in the history of the tournament that a Vietnamese club has won all its first three matches," claimed Hung.

"The results are not only encouraging for us, but have also bought fame to Viet Nam on the international stage," he added.

In the next round match on April 1, T&T will fly to Malaysia to play Selangor, the M-League first runner-up, again in the second-leg match at the Shah Alam Stadium.

Meanwhile, Arema Indonesia will play Maziya Sports & Recreation at home.

Source: VNS