Indonesia book AFF final after a second leg 2-2 draw with Vietnam

Indonesia won 4-3 on aggregate after two legs, booking their place in the final of the regional football championship.

In the first leg on December 3, Indonesia beat Vietnam 2-1 in Bogor, Indonesia.

Indonesia will meet the winner of the other semi-final between Thailand and Myanmar.   

Vietnam started the game on the front foot, with the team only needing a 1-0 win to earn a spot in the final due to the away goal rule.

However, the hosts struggled to finish their early chances, as the Vietnamese strikers were foiled by a solid Indonesian defence.

Indonesia, managed by Vietnam team’s former coach Austrian Alfred Riedl, employed a disciplined defence throughout the first half.

The visitors left only Boas Solossa up front position with support from Stefano Lilipaly.

Vietnamese captain Le Cong Vinh struggled in the semi-final, missing several clear sights of goal.

In the last minute of the first half, Vinh struck the post with a header when well positioned.

During the break, Vietnamese coach Nguyen Huu Thang implored his charges to push forward and grab the goal they needed.

In the 51st minute, Vinh failed to turn home a glorious chance from Dinh Thanh Trung’s cross.

Lilipaly broke the deadlock, capitalising on silly errors from Vietnamese goalie Nguyen Manh and defender Dinh Dong to score in the 54th minute.

The goal silenced the 40,000 Vietnamese fans at My Dinh Stadium.

Lilipaly then went clean through to the face Vietnamese keeper, but his shot went over the bar in the 63rd minute.

The hosts’ misery was compounded when keeper Mạnh received a straight red card in the 77^th minute.

Defender Que Ngoc Hai donned the gloves as Vietnam had already used the maximum three substitutions.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, in the 82^nd minute, Phạm Thành Lương found Vu Van Thanh from a free kick and Thanh hit the back of the net.

Vietnam pushed forward looking for the equaliser on aggregate in the final minutes, and their efforts were rewarded.

Substitute Vu Minh Tuan was played through by Thanh Luong and beat Indonesian keeper Kunia Meiga with a low shot, giving Vietnam a 2-1 in the 94th minute.

The goal brought the game into extra-time, with the two teams deadlocked at 3-3 after two legs.

The hosts’ luck ran out in the fourth minute of the first half of extra-time, with stand-in keeper Que Ngoc Hai fouling an Indonesian player in the penalty area.

Manahati Lestusen made no mistake from the spot kick, equalising on the night at 2-2, and sending Indonesia to the final with a 4-3 aggregate win.

VNS