VN, Thailand to contest final

HA NOI — Viet Nam will meet hosts Thailand in the final of the Southeast Asian Futsal Championship today in Bangkok.

Viet Nam defeated Indonesia 5-3 on Wednesday's first semi-final match, exacting sweet revenge for the 1-2 loss they suffered in the recent AFC Futsal Championship to Indonesia after extra time in the semi-finals.

Viet Nam took a 2-1 lead at the half before scoring three more goals after the breather.

"We were a little bit nervous as this was the same venue we lost to Indonesia in the AFC semi-final stage," said chief coach Sergio Gargelli. "But overall, the team played really well and now we look forward to the final game."

Viet Nam attacked from the outset and their aggressive play was rewarded when Nguyen Trong Thien scored the opener from inside the box in the eighth minute.

However, Indonesia refused to back down and were quick to equalise two minutes later when Karami Balfas scored from long range.

But it would be Viet Nam who went to the break ahead when Bui Van Thang, who capitalised on a defensive lapse to score from close range with five minutes left of the first half.

Indonesia's tenacity bore fruit in the 31st minute when Syahidansyah Lubis equalised.

Rattled, Viet Nam fought back and in the 34th minute Nguyen Hoang Giang restored their lead before Nguyen Quoc Bao then capitalised twice on an error from an Indonesian power play in the 37th and 39th minute.

"We should not have lost this game," said Justinus Lhaksana, Indonesia's chief coach. "We should have made good on the several chances we created in the first half."

Lhaksana scored Indonesia's third goal in the last second of the match.

In the other semi-final, Thailand beat Malaysia 12-1. — VNS