AFC Cup: Hanoi 5-1 Maziya - Difficult start for Maziya

Feb 25, 2014 - 08:30:23 | Shimaz Ali

Maziya playing against Hanoi, they lost the match by 5-1. (Photo: WSG)

Hanoi, VIETNAM – Maziya Sports and Recreation Club has lost their first game in this year’s AFC Cup by 5-1 to Vietnam’s outfit TandT Hanoi.

While the home side struggled to find their rhythm in the wet conditions in the Vietnamese capital, they still dominated possession and took the lead when Vietnam international striker Van Quyet fired home the opening goal after 18 minutes.

But they were unable to build on their lead and paid the price when Ahmed Nashid got on the end of a free-kick to level the score just three minutes before the interval. The home side scored four more in the second half to earn a comfortable victory.

After the match Maziya’s coach Ismail Mahefooz said that they are aware that the opponents are very strong and Maziya players played well in the first half.

“We knew that Hanoi TandT are strong opponents so our players played with good discipline and tactics in the first half as we held a good defensive line,” said Maziya coach Mahfooz Ismail.

“But everything changed with the two sudden goals in the second half and some of our players performed worse after that because of the difficult situation and their worsening physical condition.”