AFF Suzuki Cup

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Is in full swing at the moment, with some very interesting results....

Indonesia hammered Malaysia 5-1 the other night, though ironically the Malaysians didn't look that bad.

Cambodia will be spitting that it didn't get through to the finals as it went out on goal difference to both Philippines and Laos. Normally this wouldn't matter so much however the Philippines managed a 1-1 drew with lacklustre Singapore last night and Laos managed a draw with heavyweights Thailand. In other other game Vietnam spanked Myanmar 6-1.

The main issue I've seen in the matches thus far (only seen 3) is the deterioration in the quality of defending (yes, it can get worse). There have been some absolute howlers from the keepers and centrebacks alike.

The bright side so far is the continued emergence of Vietnam in football. The conveyor belt of talent they have contructed is starting to provide some depth and the quality of the local league is improving. It goes to show what you can achieve if you start putting together some decent football structures in the provinces.

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Philippines just defeated Vietnam 2-0 for the biggest upset in the history of the cup. Singapore and Vietnam now face off, with the loser to go out of the comp at the group stage. Philippines need just a draw against group whipping boys Myanmar to go through. This is a great result for the Philippines who, quite frankly, have never really achieved anything in football and in 2006 were ranked 195th on the FIFA rankings. A better structured defense built around young goal keeper Neil Etheridge and veteran Rob Gier has assisted as has some sprightly work up front by young striker Phil Younghusband. Has the Philippines arrived on the SE Asian scene? To be honest I didn't think so when I watched them qualify against Cambodia, East Timor and Laos however it seems I may have been wrong (that and a few foreign based players turning up for the Suzuki Cup).

Indonesia has a new striker to watch as well, Dutch trained Irfan Bachdim.

[Legoman_Carl]

looks like you jinxed Vietnam

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looks like you jinxed Vietnam

I've probably just done the same to the Philippines

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Singapore and Vietnam played a cracker of a match with Vietnam going down to 10 men however still prevailing. Philippines and Myanmar played a drab draw. On the other side Indonesia and Thailand played an entertaining match with the mob from Jakarta winning 2-1. Malaysia trounced Laos in an absolute downpour though the 5-1 result is hardly relfective of the match as Laos threw everything forward and conceded 3 goals in the last few minutes.

So the semi-finals (home and away legs) are Indonesia v Philippines and Vietnam v Malaysia. Singapore and Thailand's early exit will be putting some strain on their coaches, particularly Bryan Robson following the draw with Laos.

Anyone fancy a coaching gig in Bangkok?

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Malaysia have knocked off Vietnam, winning the 1st leg 2-0 and then obtaining a 0-0 draw in front of 40,000 Vietnamese fans at My Dinh Stadium. It is a great, and surprising, turn around for Malaysian football. They didn't look as neat as the Vietnamese however they were sharper in front of goal and wore the Vietnamese down who have a habit of cracking under pressure.

Indonesia and Philippines play their second leg today. The first leg was played in Jakarta which the Indonesians won 1-0. The second leg is played in Jakarta (you heard right) as AFF decided that Philippines didn't have a pitch that made the grade. Fair enough, but why wasn't Singapore chosen as a neutral venue? Odd indeed.