HAGL bounces back to beat MCTTPC at ASEAN soccer meet

HAGL bounces back to beat MCTTPC at ASEAN soccer meet

Arya Abhiseka, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Vietnam's Hoang Anh Gan Lai (HAGL) bounced back from its opening
loss to beat MCTTPC of Laos 2-1 in a hard-fought Group C match in
the LG Cup ASEAN Club Championship at the Bung Karno stadium here
on Wednesday.

The win almost assures HAGL, which lost to Tangerang-based
Persita 2-1 on Monday, a place in the quarterfinals given that
Persita overcomes the Laotians in next Friday's match.

HAGL's technical director, Nguyen Vaw Vinh, said after the
game that although he could not take Persita's win over MCTTPC
for granted, he considered the host a much stronger team than the
unheralded Laotians.

During Wednesday's game, before a poor show of spectators in
the sprawling 100,000 capacity stadium, the Vietnamese started
their game confidently in full swing, apparently in search of a
big-scoring win after their Persita loss.

HAGL's Thai international striker Kiatisuk Senamuang put his
team in front when he headed home from right flank about five
minutes into the game. It was his second goal in the tournament.

However, expectations for more goals were not yet met as the
Vietnamese team frequently failed to deliver more than a handful
of scoring chances, largely because of a brilliant performance by
MCTTPC's stand-in goalkeeper Phoxay Soukkathammavong.

Soukkathammavong, who came off the bench to replace injured
Vongsackda Siantphongsay in the 37th minute, made numerous
stunning saves.

His audacious effort came in the 49th minute, when he managed
to save Kiatisuk's close-ranged shot. He was later named Man of
the Match.

His outstanding performance appeared to inspire teammates to
mount a counteract. They slowly began to take charge of the game
with persistent play, led by captain forward Bounlap
Khenkitisack. But they failed to transform their chances into a
goal.

HAGL built its lead to 2-0 after Nguyen Minh Hai, who scored
in the 60th minute, only one minute after taking to the field.

The Laotians finally received their reward, when Khenkitisack,
being served with a well-taken pass from a free-kick at the edge
of the opponents' penalty box, beat HAGL keeper Vo Van Hanh from
20 yards.

Speaking about their next game, MCTTPC coach Khammanh Khouphon
predicted a difficult time against Persita, saying that the host
team looked to be a stronger team.

"However, we will give our best as we did today," he said.

Persita will only need a draw against MCTTPC to go to the next
stage of the tournament, which features champions at their
respective nations grouped in the Southeast Asia region.

If it loses, goal differences will determine team
qualification.

Later in the evening, East Bengal of India, which was invited
to the tournament, routed lowly Philippines' Army Football Club
6-0 in their Group D match.

Indian international Bhaicung Bhutia, whose briefly played
with English third division club Bury, set a tournament goal
record by scoring five goals during the game. The other goal was
made by Mahesh Gawli.

East Bengal lost to BEC Tero Sasana 0-1 in its first game.