A first-half hat-trick by striker Le Cong Vinh helped Vietnam to a 6-0 thrashing of Macau as 2014 World Cup qualifying got underway in Asia on Wednesday.
Palestine beat Afghanistan 2-0 and the Philippines snatched a 1-1 away draw at Sri Lanka in other first-leg games as Asia’s smaller soccer nations kicked off the worldwide qualifying odyssey, three years out from the World Cup finals in Brazil. The second-leg matches will be played on Sunday.
In Wednesday’s other games, Cambodia won 4-2 at home against neighbors Laos, Nepal struggled past lowly ranked East Timor 2-1, Bangladesh overpowered Pakistan 3-0 and Mongolia beat Myanmar 1-0.
Photo: AFP
In Hanoi, Vinh opened the scoring for the hosts in the 19th minute by heading in a free-kick by midfielder Phan Trong Hoang from close range. Vinh found the net again 17 minutes later also from a pass from Hoang.
The striker from T&T Hanoi completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot four minutes from the break.
Thanh Luong Pham extended the lead for Vietnam from close range 17 minutes after the break. Substitute striker Nguyen Ngoc Thanh added a goal from a header five minutes later and striker Nguyen Van Quyet sealed the victory for Vietnam a minute from time.
It was the first match for German coach Falko Gotz since he signed a two-year contract with Vietnam earlier this month.
Barring a remarkable Macau comeback when they host Sunday’s second leg, Vietnam will progress to a second-round meeting with Qatar.
Palestine normally attract their share of sympathy for the security and logistical difficulties they faces, but on Wednesday they came up against an opponent with even more severe problems in Afghanistan.
The game was nominally the home leg for Afghanistan, but it had to be played in Tajikistan because of the security situation in Afghanistan.
Murad Alyan opened the scoring for Palestine in the 28th minute and Ismail Alamour got the second in the closing stages of the second half.
Palestine will host the second leg on Sunday, confident of progressing to a second-round meeting with Thailand.
Palestine played Thailand in Olympic qualifying earlier this year, with Thailand winning in a penalty shootout after two legs, but subsequently being disqualified for fielding an ineligible player.
The Philippines will also fancy their chances of reaching the second round after a 1-1 draw in Sri Lanka.
Chathura Gunarathna beat Fulham reserve goalkeeper Neil Etheridge to put Sri Lanka ahead in the 43rd minute, but substitute Nate Burkey brought the Philippines level in the 50th minute.
The result left the Philippines well placed to progress to a second-round match against Kuwait.
Bangladesh scored in the opening minute to set up their victory over Pakistan.
Hosts Bangladesh got the ideal start through Zahid Hasan Emily’s goal, while further strikes by Mohamed Zahid Hosain in the 22nd minute and Rethul Karim in the 56th minute completed the scoring.
Pakistan will attempt to make up the big deficit when they host the second leg, with the eventual winners to meet Lebanon in the second round.
Cambodia recovered from conceding an early goal to win 4-2 at home against neighboring Laos.
Laos took a ninth-minute lead through teenage midfielder Manolom Phomsouvanh, but that advantage was overturned in a hectic period that saw four goals scored between the 51st and 67th minutes.
Khuon Laboravy equalized for Cambodia and substitute Samel Nasa then put the hosts ahead. Phomsouvanh got his second to equalize for Laos, but striker Kouch Sokumpheak put Cambodia back in front soon after.
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