Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Da Nang: Romanian defender Sabin Cosmin Goia and Argentinean striker Sebastian Gaston Merlo scored in each half as Vietnam champions SHB Da Nang edged out Myanmar’s Ayeyawady United 2-1 in their 2013 AFC Cup opener on Wednesday.
Goia opened the scoring for Le Huynh Duc’s Da Nang, who reached the quarter-finals in their last AFC Cup appearance in 2010, two minutes before half-time at Chi Lang Stadium.
And captain Merlo, who had been an injury doubt before the Group G curtain raiser, added a crucial second 10 minutes into the second half before substitute Nay Lin Tun grabbed an 89th minute consolation for 2012 MFF Cup winners Ayeyawady.
“I’m happy with the victory, but I am not satisfied with the score,” said Da Nang coach Le Huynh Duc.
“Ayeyawady played with the idea to get a draw, but our players controlled the game and also had a lot of possession.
“We had many chances to score, but we missed most of them which is a shame because we deserved a better scoreline. But a win is a good result for the first game.”
Midfielder Pham Nguyen Sa signaled Da Nang’s intentions with a speculative effort after nine minutes before Merlo, who had been a doubt following Saturday’s win in the Vietnamese Super Cup, headed wide soon after.
Despite Da Nang’s positive start, goalkeeper Nguyen Thanh Binh was called into action midway through the first half to deny Ayeyawady’s Nanda Lin Kyaw Chit.
Da Nang, though, continued to dominate and Goia and Huynh Quoc Anh were both denied in quick succession.
But two minutes before half-time the home side finally found a breakthrough as Goia, having seen an early header saved, beat Ayeyawady goalkeeper Aung Min Khant after finding his way onto the end of a free-kick.
Da Nang continued to control the game at the start of the second half and the home side deservedly doubled their lead five minutes before the hour mark as Merlo headed home Danny Mrwanda’s right wing cross from inside the area.
Faced with a two-goal deficit, Ayeyawady took a more aggressive approach to the contest as the second half progressed with Nanda Lin Kyaw Chit trying his luck on three occasions although Thanh Binh remained untroubled in the Da Nang goal.
But with just over a minute remaining the visitors were finally rewarded as substitute Nay Lin Tun converted from close range although it proved to be only a consolation for the visitors as Da Nang held on to secure a deserved victory.
“Da Nang were a really a strong opponent for us as they have high quality players,” said Ayeyawady coach Marjan Sekulovski.
“They knew how to control the game and used the home soil advantage well.
“But unfortunately our players did not play with a good spirit as sometime it seems they have a fear of losing so they do not perform to their best.”
Photo: WSG