Vietnam gain upper hand after draw with Malaysia

Hallgrimsson ‘surprised’ by move to Qatari hotseat

HONG KONG, Dec 11, (Agencies): Malaysia fought back from going two goals behind to secure a 2-2 draw with Vietnam in the first leg of the Asean Football Federation Championship final on Tuesday. Vietnam go into Saturday’s return leg in Hanoi’s My Dinh Stadium as favourites, however, thanks to their two away goals.

Both nations are attempting to win the regional title for only the second time.

After weathering a strong start by the hosts the Vietnamese raced into a twogoal lead by the 25th minute.

Phan Van Duc hit the Malaysians on the break when he latched on to Doan Van Hau’s lofted pass before sending in a low centre that eventually ended up at the feet of Nguyen Huy Hung, and he slotted his deflected shot beyond goalkeeper Farizal Marlias. Pham Duc Huy made it 2-0 soon after when his shot from distance gave Farizal little chance.

With the vociferous backing of the majority inside the Bukit Jalil Stadium, Malaysia found a way back into the game nine minutes before the interval when Shahrul Saad charged into the six-yard box to head Saymer Kutty Abba’s curling free kick home.

Malaysia were level on the hour as Safawi Rashid stepped up to curl a free kick from the edge of the area around the wall and beyond the outstretched arms of Dang Van Lam.

DOHA:

Also:

Former Iceland boss Heimir Hallgrimsson said Qatar “was the place

Malaysia forward Syafiq Ahmad (left), fights for the ball with Vietnam defender Do Duy Manh during the AFF Suzuki Cup 2018 final football match between Malaysia and Vietnam at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium in

Kuala Lumpur on Dec 11. (AFP)

to be” as he was officially unveiled as the coach of club side Al-Arabi in Doha.

It is Hallgrimsson’s first job since leaving the Iceland post and guiding his country to their first World Cup finals earlier this year, and he admitted even he was “surprised” to end up in the Gulf.

He said he had been in talks with German and Major League Soccer sides – Stuttgart and Vancouver Whitecaps – before being approached by Al-Arabi, but had no regrets about choosing a team from the World Cup 2022 host nation.

“I had some opportunities, some discussions with clubs but nothing that was more interesting than this one,” he said.

The 51-year-old has signed a one-andhalf-year contract. Hallgrimsson added: “This is a big, big challenge, a big club, that had historical success in the past and they would like to have that past again.”