AFF Suzuki Cup 2014: Philippines bounce back to beat Laos 4-1
Winger Patrick Reichlet scored twice as the Philippines fought back from a goal down to beat Laos 4-1 in the opening match of the AFF Suzuki Cup on Saturday.
Khampheng Sayavutthi opened the scoring for the underdogs with a sublime, curling free-kick in the 21st minute as Laos threatened an upset at the My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi.
But the diminutive side were pegged back five minutes before half-time when Filipino right-back Simone Rota rose highest to head home a corner from the right.
Former Chelsea youngster Phil Younghusband then took advantage of some slack Laos marking to put the Filipinos 2-1 ahead in first half stoppage time with a neat header from a looping cross.
Laos enjoyed some dangerous moments on the counter in the second half but the Philippines always looked more likely to add to their lead and German-born Reichelt did just that in the 77th minute before converting Younghusband's cross at the end to complete the scoring.
"For about 25 minutes we really struggled in the first half but then the rest of the game we created more chances and the victory for us is okay," Philippines coach Tom Dooley said.
Co-hosts Vietnam, winners of the South-east Asian Championships in 2008, host Indonesia later on Saturday.
Defending champions and co-hosts Singapore take on Thailand in Group A action on Sunday after Myanmar face Malaysia.
AFF Suzuki Cup 2014: Late error denies Vietnam opening win against Indonesia
A dreadful error by goalkeeper Tran Nguyen Manh allowed Indonesia to snatch a 2-2 draw with Vietnam in their opening Group A game at the AFF Suzuki Cup on Saturday.
The tournament co-hosts had appeared to be headed for victory in front of a partisan crowd at My Dinh Stadium thanks to a superb second-half strike by Le Cong Vinh when disaster struck with only six minutes remaining.
Nguyen Manh appeared to have Samsul Arif's weak effort from the right of the Vietnam box well covered but he dived over the ball and allowed it to trickle between his arms and legs as the the visitors levelled the score for the second time in the game.
Honours even for Malaysia and Myanmar
Myanmar, with former Singapore national football coach Raddy Avramovic at the helm, had to settle for a 0-0 draw against Malaysia in their Asean Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup Group B opener on Sunday.
Despite boasting a numerical advantage from the 34th minute - after Malaysian midfielder Gary Steven Robbat was sent-off for a second yellow card - the White Angels could not find a way past the Tigers' defence at the Jalan Besar Stadium.
Dollah Salleh's men started brightly, with forward Amri Yahyah scoring in the fifth minute but the strike was disallowed for offside.
Malaysia's threat diminished after Robbat earned his second yellow card with a lunge on Myanmar forward Kyi Lin.
Football: Late penalty condemns Singapore to 1-2 defeat against Thailand in AFF Suzuki Cup opener
The Lions' first match at the National Stadium has ended in defeat as Bernd Stange's men went down 1-2 to Thailand in the Asean Football Federation Suzuki Cup.
However, centre-back Safuwan Baharudin handled a cross inside the box in the 87th minute and the referee pointed to the spot. From the resultant penalty, Singapore goalkeeper Hassan Sunny dived correctly to his right but could not prevent midfielder Charyl Chappuis' effort from going into the net.
Singapore's next game is against Myanmar on Wednesday at the National Stadium while Thailand meet Malaysia at Jalan Besar Stadium on the same day.
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