Vissai Ninh Binh FC’s 1-0 win over Hong Kong league champions Leg Kitchee on the second leg match on August 26 could not help the Vietnamese Cup holders enter the semi-finals of AFC Cup 2014 due to their 2-4 loss in the first leg match.

Prior to the match, experts said the away match on Hong Kong stadium would be a great challenge for the Vietnamese team as their key players had been detained for their engagement in a match-fixing and gambling scandal.

Despite great support from more than 5,000 home fans, coach Nguyen Van Sy’s men still performed confidently, coming up with full-scale attacks.

Vissai Ninh Binh players (in yellow jersey) disqualified from AFC Cup 2014 semi-finals

Receiving a pass from his team mate, Nguyen Duc Linh struck a stunning volley, but South African goal keeper Wang Zhenpeng succeeded in repelling the shot.

Kitchee players responded on 19 minutes with a pass down from the right, forcing goalie Buu Ngoc to display skills to save the ball.

Four minutes later, Vissai Ninh Binh’s striker Suleiman Oladoja Abdullah had the chance to hammer in, but the ball was palmed away by Wang Zhenpeng.

Their efforts were awarded in 28 minutes when Duc Linh struck the ball that hit the bar and striker Abdullah was present in time to slot in.

After the interval, Vissai Ninh Binh’s players worked very hard to repel Leg Kitchee’s attacks. However, they missed a chance to extend the lead after referee Ammar Ali Abdullah Jumaa of the United Arab Emirates refused their penalty.

No more goals were scored in the second half.

Another Vietnamese representative, T&T Hanoi also disqualified from the AFC Cup 2014 semi-finals following their 0-2 loss to Lebanon’s Arbil in their away match on the same day.

In their first leg clash, T&T Hanoi were defeated 0-1 by the Lebanon representative at Hang Day stadium.

VOV/VNN