HO CHI MINH CITY (9 April 2010) -Malaysia will take on Indonesia in the final of the AFF Futsal Championship 2010 on Sunday when they beat hosts Vietnam 2-0 in their crucial final round robin match this afternoon at the Phu Tho Stadium.

The score at the end of the first half was 0-0. 

“The mission to avenge our loss to Vietnam has been accomplished. Now, we hope to do the same against Indonesia in the final,“ added Hamidin Mohd Amin, the Malaysian team manager.

With Malaysia needing to win to make the final this year as compared to Vietnam who just have to settle for a draw, it was the former who started strongly but Mohd Fairuz Mohd Noor and Ruzaley Abdul Aziz failed to make full use of a one-to-one situation.

Vietnam replied through the hardwork of Ngo Duy Khanh but he was not well supported while in the 11th minute, a shot from Ha Bao Minh was blocked by Malaysian keeper S. Devandran.

Four minutes later, Truong Quoc Tuan had a great chance to score but his attempt was blocked by a recovering defender as Malaysia then came closest in the first half with a quick counter attack but Mohd Khairul Effendy Mohd Bahrin’s shot narrowly missed the upright.

Vietnam went into the second half more aggressive with a flurry of chances from Quoc Tuan, Ngo Anh Dung and Bao Quan but Devandran was in fine form to deny them.

In the 38th minute when Vietnam failed to make good on a counter-attack, it was the Malaysians who finally went forward in the game through the excellent work of Mohd Akhmall Abdullah who set it up for Ruzaley Abdul Aziz to slot home.

Vietnam then introduced power play in an attempt to get back into the match but the lack of experience saw them conceding a second goal when Devandran picked up a cross to lob the ball into an open goal.

“It is a game between two tired teams. The one who scored first wins the game and that was what happened today,“ said Vietnam head coach Sergio Gargelli afterwards.

Already-qualified Indonesia kept their perfect record intact as they pummelled the Philippines 4-0 in their last round robin fixtures to put themselves in the best of mind for the final on Sunday.

Following a stuttering start, the Indonesians only managed to score a single goal in the first half before nailing the remainder after the break.

“We still need to be more stable in our approach to our opponents. We should start at the same level whoever we are up against. Like today, we were a little lax at the start against the Philippines and that is not good,“ said Robby Hartono, the head coach for Indonesia.

With Indonesia already through to the final and the Philippines out of contention, the game was a lot more open at the start.

The Philippines were relying on quick counter-attacks as Indonesia kept pressing and it was not until the tenth minute of play that they finally broke the deadlock when a short pass from Ali Haidar was slotted home by Socrates Matulessy.

The Philippines tried to push forward after the break but they just can’t find their way through and two minutes into the second half, they fell further behind when Sayan Karmadi unleashed a stiff grounder which ricocheted off Misagh Bahadoran for an own goal.

The goal seems to affect the Philippines as they tried to defend in numbers only to be punished yet again on 27th minute when Karismawan finished a move by Jaelani Ladjanibi.

Jaelani was the feeder yet again five minutes later when Socrates rounded off the afternoon for Indonesia’s fourth and final goal.

“We tried but it was a tough game and since we are already out of contention, that took the fire out. We will just have to look to next year to improve our challenge,“ added Philippines head coach Ismaeil Sedigh.









RESULTS and FIXTURES


5 April 2010: MALAYSIA 5 PHILIPPINES 3/ VIETNAM 8 MYANMAR 1

6 April 2010: PHILIPPINES 0 VIETNAM 4/ INDONESIA 7 MYANMAR 4

7 April 2010: INDONESIA 6 MALAYSIA 0/ PHILIPPINES 5 MYANMAR 2

8 April 2010: MALAYSIA 2 MYANMAR 0/ VIETNAM 1 INDONESIA 2 

9 April 2010: PHILIPPINES INDONESIA 4/ VIETNAM MALAYSIA 

10 April 2010: REST DAY

11 April 2010: Indonesia vs. Vietnam (1530)



FINAL ROUND-ROBIN STANDINGS

1. INDONESIA 12pts (+14)

2. MALAYSIA 9pts (=)

3. VIETNAM 6pts (+8)

4. PHILIPPINES 3pts (-7)