Football

NHÀ NỘI — Quảng Ninh Coal wasted many chances and finished their first Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup match in Group H against Myanmar’s Yadanarbon with a 1-1 draw yesterday.

The Vietnamese side was not allowed to play on their home turf of Cẩm Phả Stadium which, it was reported, did not meet AFC’s requirements.

They had to hire Mỹ Đình Stadium in Hà Nội but were still welcomed by nearly 2,000 loyal supporters who came from Quảng Ninh Province and local fans who attended the game.

The first 20 minutes went in favour of the host side who opened consecutive attacks on the Myanmar champions whose young players take the AFC Cup as part of their training for important competitions in the future.

However, the opening goal went to the visitors.

After withstanding the early pressure at Mỹ Đình Stadium, Yadanarbon opened the scoring after 22 minutes through Yan Paing when he finished from close in following some deft work by Thein Than Win down the left flank.

Quảng Ninh Coal who was pushed up in their line up with striker Geoffrey Kizito and captain Vũ Minh Tuấn had their opportunities but failed to score.

The score was levelled just one minute before the interval.

The hosts were awarded a penalty shortly before the interval after William Nyakwe brought down Congolese international Patiyo Tambwe and national team member Tuấn coolly slotted home from the spot.

Tambwe then twice hit the top of the crossbar in a one-sided second half, but Quảng Ninh Coal were unable to find the winning goal as Yadanarbon held out to stay on top of the three-team group having picked up four points from two games.

Nghiêm Xuân Tú and Hải Huy were also given their chances but on a bad day they could not grab a goal.

Quảng Ninh Coal with one point from that match are second and Singapore’s Home United are at the bottom without a single point.

The Vietnamese team will travel to be the guest of Home United in the next round on March 14.

The match will be at the Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore. — VNS