Phan Thanh Binh came off bench to score in the second half for Viet Nam, but coach Alfred Riedl’s side failed to secure a point as ten minutes from time substitute Sobir Usmankhodjaev sealed a winner for Olympic Uzbekistan, who registered their first victory for months. Earlier, Marat Bikmaev opened the scoring just eight minutes after kick off.

Coach Riedl lined up Le Cong Vinh, Nguyen Vu Phong, Nguyen Anh Duc, Le Tan Tai and Huynh Quang Thanh, who returned from the United Arab Emirates after a heavy 5-0 defeat in the second leg of the first qualifying round of the FIFA World Cup 2010.

As key players failed to recover from jetlag and tiredness after the clash in Abu Dhabi, the Vietnamese side started their game in a dreadfully poor fashion. They looked a shadow of the Olympic team, which reached the final qualifying round of the 2008 Olympic Games.

Uzbekistan were the better side in the opening quarter and went in front after eight minutes. Bikmaev slotted the rebound home after Vietnam goalie Tran Duc Cuong denied an Uzbekistan player.

Vietnam failed to show a cutting edge in the first half, only seeing Vu Phong and Duy Nam off-target finishes.

The hosts’ performance lived up after the break after Mai Tien Thanh came in for Vu Phong. However, they had to wait until Thanh Binh and young starlet Nguyen Quang Hai went in for ineffective frontmen Anh Duc and Cong Vinh.

Thanh Binh headed home after a freekick from Nguyen Quy Suu, who was introduced for Vo Duy Nam as a central midfielder, seven minutes from the hour mark.

Encouraged by Thanh Binh’s equaliser, the hosts launched more attacks on the Uzbek defence. However, they failed to create a clear opportunity to score.

Ten minutes from time, Usmankhodjaev, who came in for Nodirbek Kuziboyev, gave Uzbekistan a victory after two attempts.

In another match, Olympic Finland came from 2-0 down to beat Under-23 Zimbabwe 3-2. Nkhatha Kingstone scored a brace in the first half for Under-23 Zimbabwe, but Kingstone found his own net under pressure of Jonas Porlin, before Joni Aho and Eetu Muinonen scored two more goals.