The Hindu : Sport / Football : LG Cup: Vietnam beats India

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Aug 25, 2004

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Sport - Football

LG Cup: Vietnam beats India

HANOI (VIETNAM), AUG. 24. Vietnam registered a 2-1 win over India to book a place in the LG Cup semifinals here on Tuesday.

The win at Ho Chi Minh City put Vietnam on top of the Group `A' standings. India also advanced to the next stage after Myanmar was eliminated from the six-team tournament with two losses.

Vinh put Vietnam ahead in the 21st minute with a shot from 15 metres that sneaked past the diving Indian goalkeeper Neseem Akhtar to the right corner of the goal.

Thach Bao Khanh doubled Vietnam's tally in the 57th minute with a header off a pass from playmaker Le Hong Minh.

India had a good chance in the 35th minute when star striker Baichung Bhutia's powerful shot was blocked by Vietnamese goalkeeper Bui Quang Huy. Midfielder Climax Lawrence scored a consolation goal for India three minutes from the end through a rebound off a free kick by Rennedy Singh which hit the crossbar.

A minute later, Rennedy was ejected with a red card for a rough tackle on Vietnamese defender Nguyen Huy Hoang, who was also sent out with a second yellow card offence.

It was a sweet revenge for Vietnam which was defeated by India in the LG Cup final two years ago.

Vietnam meets Ho Chi Minh City team in the first semifinal, while India takes on the South Korean Students' squad in the second semifinal on Thursday. The final is slated for Saturday. — AP

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