Football

HÀ NỘI — Both Vietnamese clubs were disqualified from the Asian Football Confederation Cup after the last group round matches.

FLC Thanh Hóa yesterday drew Yangon United 3-3 at the Hà Nội’s Mỹ Đình Stadium in Group G.

It was the third time they came from behind to snatch a draw in their first time they were participating in the continental-levelled tournament.

Yangon United made a perfect start when Guinean striker Sekou Sylla put them ahead in just the second minute.

Thanh Hóa needed eight minutes to come over the early goal loss to produce an equaliser.

Trịnh Đình Hùng made a wonderful overlapping run before whipping in a pinpoint cross for Pape Omay Faye whose header was too powerful for Yangon keeper Sann Sat Naing.

The visiting side went ahead for the second time when Sekou Sylla fired a shot pass goalie Trần Bửu Ngọc of Thanh Hóa just 20 minutes later.

The equaliser was set up again when Naing failed to clear a ball from Lê Văn Thắng’s first finish. Thắng was presented with an easy tap into an open net.

The visitors took the lead for the third time just after the hour mark when Maung Lwin got his second assist of the night, with his free-kick to the back post being headed home by Zaw Thein.

A late goal from Thanh Hóa’s substitute Ryutaro Karube’s header effort finalised the result of the match.

Yangon United, who lost just once in the group stage, topped the group with 13 points. They will face Ceres-Negros of the Philippines, second in Group F, in the semi-finals next month.

Thanh Hóa were placed third in the group with six points and ended their tournament.

Earlier on Tuesday, a second-half penalty from Safiq Rahim earned Johor Darul Ta’zim of Malaysia a 3-2 win over Vietnamese Sông Lam Nghệ An in Group H in Johor.

That looked like it was on the cards after a blistering opening to the match from the home side, dominating the exchanges before finally taking the lead after 36 minutes when Safawi Rasid blasted home from the edge of the area.

Their lead was doubled just minutes later when Syafiq Ahmad rose to head home La’vere Corbin-Ong’s cross as Johor Darul Ta’zim looked headed for a comfortable victory.

But a loss in concentration in the final five minutes of the first half proved costly as first Nguyễn Viết Nguyên and then Hồ Tuấn Tài scored to draw the visitors level at 2-2 heading into half time.

Defender Nguyễn Sỹ Nam of Sông Lam Nghệ blocked Rasid’s shot with his hand, and captain Safiq Rahim stepped up to the spot to put the home side ahead again.

Sông Lam Nghệ An stood in second position but it was not enough to push them into the semi-finals.

Johor Darul Ta’zim were at third and ousted from the event. — VNS