Togo Trounce Vietnam in Opening Game

The following articles highlight the process of Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and their demise from the governance of international football and the rise of Global Futbol.

June 16th, 2018 (Match 7)

Togo Trounce Vietnam in Opening Game

Togo 5-1 Vietnam

An attacking Togolese side has fired five goals against a hapless Vietnam, with unlikely scorers taking charge.

 

The first half hour saw no goals. Vietnamese veteran Lê Công Vinh posted the best chance when he fired with his left, only to be stopped by Mensah.

 

After a slight shift in approach, Togo piled on four goals in 11 minutes. The Vietnamese defence capitulated as goals came from all over the field. 

 

The first started with a through ball by Akakpo to Romao. With the defenders preoccupied by the strikers, Romao ran to the edge of the box. His right foot fired and the ball hit the netting just inside the right hand post.

 

Four minutes later, Adebayor won the ball in the middle. He tapped it into the open space behind him, where Gakpé was running. The attacking midfielder touched it once into the box and curled it around an advancing Trần Nguyên Mạnh.

 

Two minutes after came another attack, forwarded by a cross from Ayité. Adebayor ran past the far post, and reached out his left as he slid. The ball thudded into the signage behind the goal and the Togolese supporters groaned at the near miss by the veteran striker.

 

Man of the Match Bossou then attacked from defence, with players drawn away from him. Only midfielder Phạm Thành Lương pressured from behind. Bossou fired low with his left: three goals from three different positions.

 

Ayité’s goal on the brink of halftime summed up the last 11 minutes: a lack of clearance and an error by Trần Nguyên Mạnh saw the ball hit Ayité’s chest, and run towards an open goal. Ayité made sure it finished in the back of the net.

 

After the hour mark, Vietnam switched Lê Công Vinh up as the main striker and brought on Nguyễn Văn Toàn behind. This provided little relief up forward, but the Vietnamese still pushed despite the insurmountable task.

 

The task became impossible when substitute Laba received the ball in the right pocket. He guided it to Adebayor, who hit across the goal with his first touch. This fifth goal, from a fifth scorer, ensured Togo with first place in Group C.

 

A consolation solo-effort by Lương Xuân Trường did little to dent the embarrassment as Togo ran out four-goal winners. This exuberance and attacking style will help them as they traverse to Ekaterinburg against the Italians to potentially hold top placing in their group. The Vietnamese must regroup after such a poor performance. They take on the two hot favourites in their group, with Denmark first, who will be out to avenge their loss to Italy.

 

 

Togo	5-1		Vietnam
12 5 50 17 3 0 41 84	Shots Shots on Target Possession % Tackles Fouls Corners Shot Accuracy % Pass Accuracy %		3 3 50 17 0 1 100 74
32’ #15 Romao (#5 Akakpo assist)  36’ #17 Gakpé (#4 Adebayor assist)  41’ #9 Bossou (#4 Adebayor assist)  43’ #10 Ayité  45’ #7 Dossevi off, #8 Agbégniadan on  56’ #5 Akakpo off, #14 Segbefia on  63’ #10 Ayité off, #19 Laba on     67’ #13 Ouro-Akoriko  74’ #4 Adebayor (#19 Laba assist)		63’ #10 Nguyễn Văn Quyết off, #21 Nguyễn Văn Toàn on      74’ #3 Trương Đình Luật off, #15 Quế Ngọc Hải on  74’ #17 Vũ Văn Thanh off, #20 Ngô Hoàng Thịnh on  90’ #14 Lương Xuân Trường