Vietnam have advanced to the semifinals as toppers of Group A at the 2014 Southeast Asian Football Championship, or AFF Suzuki Cup, after they beat the Philippines 3-1 in Hanoi on Friday.

The Vietnamese hosts finished the group stage with seven points after drawing 2-2 with Indonesia on November 22, defeating Laos 3-0 on Tuesday and the win over the Filipinos today.

The Philippines finished second with six points following a 4-1 win over Laos and 4-0 victory over Indonesia on November 22 and 25, respectively.

Vietnam will take on the runners-up of Group B, which includes co-hosts Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, and Myanmar, while the Azkals will clash with the group’s leaders in the semifinal round on December 6 and 7.

Thailand have secured a spot in the semis with six points after two games but it is not sure they will be the group’s leaders following their last group stage game against Myanmar, who have earned only one point, on Saturday.

The Singaporean co-hosts, Myanmar, and Malaysia are battling for the second ticket to the last-four round.

Singapore, with three points, will take on Malaysia who have one point in their hands in the other game of Group B tomorrow.

Just nine minutes into the Vietnam-the Philippines match at My Dinh Stadium, midfielder Hoang Thinh scored the opening goal after blasting a straight diving shot from a distance of 30 meters from the left wing.

In the 29th minute, Cong Vinh was fouled, falling in the Filipino box for being pulled by a rival defender but the referee ignored it.

Minh Tuan widened Vietnam’s lead to 2-0 in the 51st minute. He had the ball in the middle of the field on the right flank, dribbled past a Filipino player to enter the box, and slotted the ball to the far corner to defeat keeper Deyto.

Seven minutes later, Thanh Luong was set up outside the danger area and he immediately curved a flying shot to drive the ball into the left corner of the goal frame to extend the score to 3-0.

The Philippines shortened the gap to 1-3 in the 60th minute by Mulders, who received a cross in the Vietnamese penalty area and cushioned home.

For the Philippines, the match was merely for deciding the winners of Group A because they had booked a seat in the semis.

In the other match of Group A, Indonesia routed Laos 5-1 today to finish third with four points.

The 2014 AFF Suzuki Cup is taking place in Vietnam and Singapore from November 22 to December 20.

According to TTN