Host Vietnam lost to Thailand 2-0 in the first leg of a semifinal match in the Football Championship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Hanol on Wednesday night.

Thai half-backer Thonglao and his compatriot Pipat scored one apiece in the 27th minute and the 80th of the game, respectively. Thonglao converted a free kick outside the penalty area into the opening goal, and Pipat extended the lead and sealed the victory for Thailand after several quick coordination with his teammates inside the area.

One minute before the break, Vietnamese striker Phan Thanh Binh failed to convert a penalty kick into the equalizing goal. His light shot drove the ball past the goal post.

Vietnamese players, strongly supported by local fans in the 40,000-seat national stadium of My Dinh, deployed many attacks during the match, but their opponents' thick defense refused any goals. Moreover, the Thai goalie made several fine saves to keep his net clean.

Vietnam and Thailand will clash again in the second leg in Bangkok, Thailand on Jan. 28.

The ASEAN Football Championship 2007, co-hosted by Thailand and Singapore from Jan. 12 to Feb. 4, is held for the first time after being renamed from the ASEAN Tiger Cup which was held five times from 1996 to 2004.

Group A includes Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar and the Philippines, and defending champion Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia and Laos are grouped B.

Source: Xinhua