Posted on November 26, 2012
by THE START online
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| Hard fall: Laos’ Ketsada Souksavanh is pushed by Indonesia’s Irfan Bachdim during the AFF Suzuki Cup Group B match at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil last night. The match ended 2-2. |
KUALA LUMPUR: Laos arrived saying they are not here to make up the numbers.
Malaysia would be wise to take notice as the Laotians showed their capabilities with a superb 2-2 draw with 2010 runners-up Indonesia at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil last night.
In fact, Laos came close to victory in a highly-charged match that saw a player from each side being given the marching orders.
The so called minnows were leading 2-1 with just a minute left when Indonesia’s substitute Vendry Mofu struck the equaliser that gave his side a precious point and saved their blushes.
Laos went one up in the 30th minute courtesy of a spot kick converted by Khampeng Sayavutthi after Vilayout Sayyabounsou was fouled by Indonesia’s goalkeeper Endra Suprapto.
Endra earned the first red card of the tournament for his rash challenge.
That forced the stunned Garuda to sacrifice winger Oktovianus Maniani to bring in reserve goalkeeper Wahyu Tri Nugroho.
The drama, however, continued. With Indonesia stepping up a gear and pinning Laos in defence, winger Sopha Saysana buckled. He lost his head with a bad tackle on Andik Vermansah and was shown a straight red by referee Ng Kai Lam of Hong Kong.
Indonesia continued to attack and were finally rewarded when Raphael Maitimo equalised in the 42nd minute.
A more organised and calmer Laos were a different side after the break. They dictated the pace and some fine interchanges in midfield saw Indonesia reeling. Indonesia took out their ineffective skipper Bambang Pamungkas and sent on Vendry in the 64th minute.
But Laos were not to be stopped.
They put the ball into the net in the 70th minute but Keonviengpheth Lithideth was judged to have handled the ball before his shot and that earned him a yellow card.
The long-awaited goal finally came in the 79th after Lithideth weaved past two defenders to score a screamer. Laos 2-1.
But Indonesia never lost heart and pushed up once again in search of the equaliser.
Laos lost their nerve under pressure and Mofu pounced to make it 2-2.
Laos coach Kokichi Kimura said he was satisfied with his team’s performance but felt they were unlucky not to win.
“I don’t know if the red card we got was justified but that’s football. We got in front first and the boys did well. I hope it will be better against Malaysia next,” he said.
Indonesia’s coach Nil Maizar was full of praise for his team’s fighting display.
“I’m very proud of the boys. They kept fighting until the end. It was a difficult match as Laos are no pushovers. But we got a point and I can accept that,” he said.
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