We shall start with a discussion of the undisputed most dramatic match of the day. Laos returned home to Vientiane down 4-2 in the aggregate to neighboring Cambodia knowing that a two-goal margin was a necessity to survive. The first half saw Laos stake itself to a 2-0 lead just past the half hour mark, giving itself a 4-4 aggregate score with a 2-0 road goals lead. However, Cambodia was not going down easily. The visitors struck back just before intermission to make the score 2-1 and 5-4 on the aggregate.
A determined Laos machine came out for the second half and pushed two more goals home within the first ten minutes. 4-1 Laos, 6-5 aggregate. However, Cambodia again clawed its way back from the dead with a goal fifteen minutes from the final whistle. The goal proved to be the final one, leaving the match 4-2 Laos and the aggregate 6-6 with two road goals per side. Extra time would be needed for the first time in the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Laos were the team that got the job done in extra time, scoring once in each of the two overtime periods. The deflated Cambodians will have to take solace knowing that they played in the best series in qualifying so far. Laos win the night 6-2 and the series 8-6 and advance to face China in the next round.
In a surprisingly close series, Taiwan came home to face Malaysia down only 2-1 in the aggregate. However, things began to look bleak early as Malaysia erased Taiwan's road goal with a 40-meter free kick that bounced in off the crossbar to make the aggregate 3-1. However, Taiwan was game and ready to fight to the bitter end on this night. Taiwan leveled on the night at the half hour mark only to go down yet again after a dipping free kick by Safiq Rahim entered the net (pictured, #8) made the deficit nearly impossible to overcome. Malaysia led 2-1 at that point, 4-2 in the aggregate, and 2-1 in road goals. Taiwan would have to win the remainder of the match by three goals to advance.
Taiwan nearly pulled out the unthinkable comeback. The Taiwanese were blessed with three penalty kick opportunities. The first was converted just before halftime. 2-2 game, 4-3 aggregate. The second and third opportunities both came in the second half. Chen Po Liang, scorer of the first penalty kick, missed a penalty kick in minute 62. His duty was transferred to a teammate for the third kick, which was converted. Taiwan led 3-2 on the night and had a 4-4 tie in the aggregate, but were still losing the series on road goals. They fought desperately and valiantly, but no fourth goal was found and Malaysia survived a massive upset bid.
Malaysia go on the face rivals Singapore in the second round in what looks on paper to be a very close matchup. However, the Malaysians feel themselves to be playing below their standard currently, so they are looking to improve drastically before July 23 comes around.
The Vietnam-Macau matchup was all over except for the victory lap heading into the second leg in Macau with Vietnam up 6-0. Hat trick hero Le Cong Vinh looked to increase his lead in the race for the FIFA World Cup qualifying golden boot. That he did, scoring a brace in the first period as Vietnam staked itself to a 4-0 lead. Macau pulled one back at the hour mark, but Vietnam then proceeded to punish Macau for their insolence by knocking home three more, including two more from Le. The night ended 7-1 for Vietnam and the series 13-1. Le leads all scorers with seven goals in his two matches.
Vietnam advance to face some significantly stiffer competition in 2011 AFC Asian Cup quarterfinalists Qatar in the second round. Vietnam, brimming with confidence, will be looking to pull off the upset against Qatar.
Goals:Laos
Lamnao Singto 19, 55
Khampheng Sayavutthi 31
Souliya Syphasay 47
Visay Phaphouvanin 94
Sysomvang Kanlaya 112
Cambodia
Chhin Chhoeun 45
Kouch Sokumpheak 75
Taiwan
Cheng Han 31
Chen Po Liang 44 PK
Chen Xavier 75 PK
Malaysia
Mohamad Abd Radzak 8
Safiq Rahim (pictured, #8) 40
Vietnam
Huynh Quang Thanh 3, 86
Nguyen Quang Hai 24
Le Cong Vinh 29, 43, 75, 82
Macau
Leong Ka Hang 60
Match Reports:
Highlights:
Palestine hosted its first ever FIFA World Cup match on home soil, a proud moment for the nation. Thousands of spectators filed into the stadium in Al-Ram without incident, another boost to the international image of Palestine, though perhaps more fans would have arrived had the match start time been later in the evening. More importantly for the Palestine squad, it was a golden chance to advance to the second round for the first time. Palestine had won the first leg 2-0 over Afghanistan on Tajik soil.
