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.