Striker Nguyen Van Toan scored the decisive goal as Viet Nam edged Indonesia 3-2 in a friendly match at Hanoi’s My Dinh Stadium yesterday.

The win was a good warm-up for Viet Nam before competing in the ASEAN Football Championship, or AFF Cup.

The two sides started the game slowly, and Vietnamese striker Nguyen Trong Hoang broke a 10-minute deadlock with a cannon shot that went high. Then Nguyen Van Quyet missed a clear chance in the 21st minute when he headed Dinh Thanh Trung’s lob just over the bar. Later still, striker Van Toan was unable to beat Indonesian keeper Kunia Meiga in a face-to-face setting.  

Indonesia, coached by former Vietnamese coach Austrian Alfred Riedl, regrouped to launch counter-attacks that bore fruit in the 32nd minute.

A Evan Dimas Darmono shot at the goal was parried by Vietnamese custodian Nguyen Manh, but Indonesian captain Boas Theofilus Erwin did not make any mistake with the rebound.

Vietnamese forward Nguyen Van Quyet could have tied the score in the 35th minute, but he found the post.

A minute from the break, Vietnamese top striker Le Cong Vinh marked his first goal in the friendly, positioning himself to head home a Thanh Trung freekick.

Vietnamese coach Nguyen Huu Thang substituted defender Que Ngoc Hai and goalkeeper Tuan Linh in the second half time.

The hosts were shocked again as Indonesia regained the lead in the 51st minute from the penalty spot.

Defender Truong Dinh Luat had a hand-ball as he tried to clear the ball in the penalty area, and Indonesia’s Ifran Bachdin found the back of the net without a fuss.

A perfect 55th minute save by Vietnamese keeper Tuan Linh thwarted a long range shot from Indonesian captain Boas.

When a spate of attacks by Vietnamese players failed, coach Thang sent in more strikers.

Substitute Nguyen Cong Phuong scored the equalizer in the 71st minute, tipping a skilful cross from Phạm Thành Lương from a close range.

In the 83rd minute, striker Van Toan followed a 40m lob from teammate Que Ngoc Hai and essayed an accurate, skillful outside shot past Indonesian keeper Meiga to earn Viet Nam a narrow win. 

VNS