Laos, Vietnam kick off SEA Games with wins

Laos, Vietnam kick off SEA Games with wins

The Jakarta Post
Jakarta

Laos caused an upset in the first competition of the 23rd
Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in the Philippines, beating favored
Myanmar on Sunday in Bacolod City.

The biannual multisport event featuring 11 countries
officially opens on Nov. 27 and lasts until Dec. 5, but several
sports such as soccer and water polo have begun competition. The
events are being held in five Philippine cities.

Visay Phaphouvanin scored two goals, including one on a
penalty kick in the 79th minute that proved to be decisive as the
Laotians made a rousing start in this year's Games after placing
last in its group in Vietnam two years ago.

Phaphouvin earned the decisive penalty kick on a hard tackle
by Khin Maung Tun that drew yellow card for the 3-2 victory, the
official Games website http://2005seagames.com.ph/ reported.

"This is good news for our country. This is big considering
the fact that we're ranked lower than Myanmar," said Laos '
Russian coach Valeriv Valirey through an interpreter.

Vietnam staved off what could have been a double shocker in
the other game as it repulsed Singapore, 2-1 after trailing 0-1
early in the contest. Standout Phan Van Nguyen scored both goals
for the favored Vietnamese.

Indonesia begin their campaign against Vietnam on Tuesday with
the potential for a big bonus if they win. Bola weekly sports
tabloid reported in its most recent issue on Friday that players
would be entitled to a bonus if they go one better than their
runner-up finish in the Tiger Cup to Singapore in January.

National coach Peter Withe would also be entitled to a big
payday, the tabloid said in citing a source withing the
Indonesian Soccer Association. The Englishman would be entitled
to a US$25,000 bonus if the team take gold, the source said, and
$5,000 for a second place finish.