AFF Suzuki Cup 2008 - Late Goal Downs Brunei

PHNOM PENH (23 Oct 2008) – A late header from Saynakhonevieng Phommapanya took Laos a step closer to confirming their place in the next round of the AFF Suzuki Cup 2008 when they beat Brunei 3-2 in the fourth match day of the qualifiers here at the National Olympic Stadium.

With the score tied at 2-2, Saynakhonevieng headed home the winner from the far post to give Laos their second win following their victory over the Philippines in their last match.

“We changed five players for this game and that was probably why we did not play well in the first half,” said Veleriy Vdovin, the head coach for Laos.

“We brought in the regulars after the break and we played much better after that. But I think that we were a little lucky today because if the Brunei team had defended better towards the end, we would have lost.”

With the win today, Laos have picked up six points while Brunei are still on four points going into the last match of the qualifiers on Saturday.

Laos, who had won the qualifiers two years ago in the Philippines, started stronger with Vongphet Sylisay blasting over a cross from Lamnao Singto early in the seventh minute.

But a minute later, Laos took the lead when Visay Phaphouvanin blasted in a goal mouth melee which took a deflection off a defender before sailing into the Brunei goal.

Rattled, Brunei pushed forward and while they totally muffed a double chance off a corner in the 20th minute, they made that up with the equalizer eight minutes later.

Mohd Azwan Saleh floated in a cross from the right for Hardi Bujang to deliver an inch perfect glancing header into the Laotian goal.

With the score level at 1-1 at the start of the second half, Brunei played a more defensive game while Laos piled on the pressure in search of the winner.

In the 53rd minute, Phayvanh Lounglath’s freekick went straight to the arms of Brunei keeper Mohd Wardun Yussof while five minutes later; a header from Lamnao came off the woodwork.

But while Laos was busy trying to prise open their opponent’s defence, it was Brunei who took the lead in the 84th minute when off a cross from Azwan, substitute Mohd Abu Bakar Mahari headed home from the near post for them to be in front for the first time in the game.

Laos maintained their composure and continued to pressure the cagey Brunei defence.

And before long they finally found the equalizer late in the 89th minute when Lamnao picked up a cross from the centre before chipping the ball over Wardun to put the score at 2-2.

With seconds remaining to the final whistle, came Saynakhonevieng’s header which put Laos firmly in the driver’s seat as they look to playing against Timor Leste in the final game of the qualifiers in two days.

“We are very disappointed with the results. We do not think that we deserve to lose this match,” said Vjeran Simunic, the head coach for Brunei.

“We have three players suspended and with this defeat, it is very difficult for us to qualify into the next round.”