VietNamNet Bridge - Host Song Lam Nghe An were knocked out with a 3-1 loss to Persipura from Indonesia at the second-round qualifiers of the Asian Football Cup (AFC) on May 25.

 
At Vinh stadium in Vinh City, in the central province of Nghe An, the hosts performed a lackluster performance and seemed to “let loose” the game before it started, to save power for their domestic fights at Vietnam’s top-flight V-League.

 

Coach Nguyen Huu Thang fielded in the game with reserve players, like goalkeeper Nghiem Manh, fullbacks Son Ha, Ngoc Luan, Thanh Hai and Tuan Anh, with the absence of many stars.

 

At the same time, the Indonesian team showed their will to win the game when coach Tiago used his best players, including captain Boaz Salossa, the top goal scorer of the Indonesian National Football Tournament.

 

Boaz Salossa opened the scoring from the spot at the 25th minute and Titus Bonai doubled the lead before half-time.

 

Nguyen Hong Viet pulled a goal back for Song Lam Nghe An in the 59th minute, before Ortizan Salossa wrapped up victory for the Indonesians, six minutes from the end following a swift and incisive counter-attack.

 

Since then, Vietnamese players performed very poorly. Many fans left the game before it finished.

 

Coach Huu Thang said that he had to use reserve players because all key players of Song Lam Nghe An are injured now. The team currently has only five instead of 7 reserve players.

 

To enter the second round, the team topped the group F in the first-round qualifiers with 12 points from 4 wins and 2 losses.

 

PV