Vietnam Golden Stars bag second Suzuki Cup title
VIETNAM is once again the AFF Suzuki Cup champion after claiming the 2018 edition of the biennial regional event with a 1-0 victory over Malaysia in the second leg of their final in Hanoi. The win allowed the Golden Stars to get the better of their opponents, 3-2, on aggregate to claim their second title.
The host team did not waste time in getting on the board with Nguyen Anh Duc scoring just six minutes into the contest, sending their faithful at the My Dinh National Stadium into frenzy.
The two sides continued to battle after but Malaysia would not find the breakthrough it was angling for as it slumped to the defeat.
The latest conquest of Vietnam is its second Suzuki Cup in addition to the one it won in 2008.
Having waited long for another title, the significance of being champions anew is not lost to the Golden Stars.
“For us, after 10 years we did it again. All Vietnamese people were waiting for 10 years so we’re so happy,” Vietnamese goalkeeper Dang Van Lam was quoted as saying by the official AFF Suzuki Cup Web site following their title conquest.
“It’s an amazing feeling to be able to do this again 10 years after the last time. The whole team did everything we could and to win here in front of our home supporters at My Dinh and to have a Gold Medal and the Cup we’re just so happy,” he added.
In winning the 2018 Suzuki Cup, Vietnam was dominant, going undefeated in group play with three wins and a draw before defeating the Philippines in the semifinals, 4-2, on aggregate.
Vietnam is now in solo 3rd place in titles won in the AFF Suzuki Cup, behind Thailand (five titles) and Singapore (four). Malaysia is the other team to have won a title with one. —