Vietnam’s U19s win Int’l U21 Football Championship

Vietnam’s U19 squad won the 2010 International Under-21 Football Tournament Championship after beating Thailand’s U21s 2-1 in the final match at Ho Chi Minh City’s Thong Nhat Stadium on Sunday.

Though considered the underdogs, the Vietnamese U19s were on equal terms with the Thailand throughout the dramatic final game of the fourth edition of the youth football event sponsored by Thanh Nien newspaper.

The Vietnamese U19s took the lead after five minutes following a mix-up in the Thai penalty area.  Hai Huy fired a powerful shot that sailed 16 meters into the goal.

The Thai U21s launched relentless attacks but the Vietnamese players stood firm through the remaining minutes of the first half.

After the break, the Thai players continued attacking and scored an equalizer midway through the second half when the Vietnamese defenders showed clear signs of fatigue.

Vietnam’s goalkeeper Buu Ngoc stopped Hongthong’s shot but failed to catch it, allowing Meesawad to send the rebounding ball to the back of Vietnam’s net.

The Vietnamese defenders continued to make mistakes but either goalkeeper Buu Ngoc mounted a good defense and the Thai strikers proved poor shots.

The young Vietnamese squad didn’t have many chances but they managed to score to make the game 2-1 ten minutes from full time.

With huge contributions, Buu Ngoc won the “best player of the match” award while Nguyen Van Quyet won the tournament’s “best player” and the “Vietnamese most impressive player” awards.

The Vietnamese U19 players won the trophy with a cash prize of US$10,000 and the Thai players took the second place and $7,000.

The Vietnamese U21 team earned the third place after beating the Malaysian U21s and got a cash prize of $5,000. Thailand’s Sokjoho had three goals and was named “best scorer” while Thailand’s goalkeeper Yen Arom was awarded the “tournament’s best goalkeeper” title.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the final match, Nguyen Cong Khe, Chairman of Thanh Nien Media Corporation and chief of the organizing committee said, “Our philosophy at the National and International U21 Tournament, is to honor “Virtue, Intelligence and Talent”. The winning football must be the beautiful, the kind of football that is honest and impressive to the fans. That is our hope for the youth football tournament.

“The organizing committee, Thanh Nien newspaper and Thanh Nien Media Corporation have been trying and will continue to try our best to make this youth football tournament more and more perfect and professional.”

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Vietnam U21 beat Thailand 3-1 at Thanh Nien Cup

Vietnam U21 players celebrate their goal during their Thanh Nien Newspaper Cup football match against Thailand U21 in HCMC on Wednesday - Photo: Ba Chau

HCMC –Vietnam U21 beat archrivals Thailand 3-1 in their last group stage match in the fourth International U-21 Football Tournament 2010, or Thanh Nien Newspaper Cup, on Wednesday. 

Before the game, both Vietnam and Thailand were drawn at three points as they had both thrashed their opponents in their openers, with the Thai’s 4-0 win over Myanmar on Monday and Vietnam’s thrashing of Myanmar 5-1 on Saturday.

Because of the goal difference, a draw would have been enough for the hosts to stay on top, while the Thais needed a victory to be group A leaders.

Vietnam, who began with nine changes from coach Dinh Van Dung after their win over Myanmar, showed great determination.

Heavy rain dampened the player’s attacks early in the first half leaving the Vietnamese crowd waiting till the 35th minute to celebrate, when Xuan Hieu took a kick in the penalty box beating Thai goalie, Yen Arom.

After the break, Vietnam kept possession and Duy Lam doubled for his team with a free kick from outside the penalty area just minutes in.

Duc Nhan scored for the Vietnamese side in the 65th minute before Pattana Sokjoho finalized the score at 3-1 in the 68th minute. 

With the victory, Vietnam U21 finished their group competition as group A leaders with six points from two wins, while runners-up Thailand stayed at three points from one win and one loss. Bottom-placed Singapore, who exited from the tournament, gained no points from two losses.  

In the earlier match on Wednesday, Vietnam U19 started the game with substitutes, but dominated against Malaysia U21. The visitors secured a late victory, to finish top of Group B, when striker Ravindran scored the only goal in the 86th minute. Despite the loss the Vietnam U19 will still go through to the semis.

Malaysia had four points from one win and one draw, while Vietnam U19 were runners-up with three points.

On Friday’s semifinal games, Vietnam U21 will meet Vietnam U19 at 3:30 p.m. and Thailand will play Malaysia at 6:00 p.m. The final and third place games will be on Sunday.

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Vietnam U19 through, Myanmar exit from U-21 tournament

Vietnam U21 players celebrate their goal during their Thanh Nien Newspaper Cup football match against Singapore U21 in HCMC on Monday - Photo: Ba Chau

HCMC – Vietnam U19 beat Singapore U21 2-1 in their first game of the fourth International U-21 Football Tournament  2010, also called Thanh Nien Newspaper Cup, while Thailand thrashed Myanmar 4-0 in the earlier game at HCMC’s Thong Nhat Stadium on Monday.

A still scoreless Vietnam suffered a shock blow when The Son scored an own goal in the 38th minute. They regained composure quickly to dominate play but took 47 nailbiting minutes to equalize.

Quoc Phuong leveled for the Vietnamese team in the 85th minute and Van Thanh finalized the game at 2-1 just two minutes later, giving his team the important victory in the group stage of the competition.

With the victory, Vietnam U19 secured top of Group B with three points and secured the first semifinals ticket. Singapore U21, who tied 1-1 with Malaysia U21 in their opener on Saturday, and Malaysia U21 have one point each.

The second Group B’s semifinals ticket will be decided on Wednesday when Vietnam U19 play Malaysia U21. The Vietnamese still go through win or lose.

Earlier, Thailand U21 crushed their counterparts from Myanmar 4-0. The Thai side controlled the game and Sokjoho and Hongthong scored two goals each for their team.

Thailand U21 and Vietnam U21 have three points from their first win but the Vietnamese side rank first of Group A thanks to the goal difference while  Myanmar exited from the annual tournament after suffering two losses. The Myanmar side lost 1-5 to Vietnam U21 in the opening game on Saturday. 

Vietnam will play archrivals Thailand in their final game to decide the leaders of Group A on Wednesday and the two teams only need a draw to advance to the semifinal round.

On Wednesday, Vietnam U19 will take on Malaysia U21 in the final Group B match at 3:30 p.m. and Vietnam U21 will play Thailand U21 in their final game in Group B at 6:00 p.m.

The International U.21 Football Tournament, at HCMC’s Thong Nhat Stadium from October 23-31, drew four foreign U21 squads from Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Myanmar together with Vietnam’s U21 and U19 teams.

The six teams play in round-robin format in two groups with the top two teams from each advancing to the semifinals. Group A comprises Vietnam U21, Myanmar U21 and Thailand U21 while Vietnam U19 are in Group B with Singapore U21 and Malaysia U21. 

The annual football event, which is sponsored by the Thanh Nien newspaper, is considered a key part of developing youth football talent in the country.

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Vietnam U19 through, Myanmar exit from U-21 tournament

Vietnam U21 players celebrate their goal during their Thanh Nien Newspaper Cup football match against Singapore U21 in HCMC on Monday - Photo: Ba Chau

HCMC – Vietnam U19 beat Singapore U21 2-1 in their first game of the fourth International U-21 Football Tournament  2010, also called Thanh Nien Newspaper Cup, while Thailand thrashed Myanmar 4-0 in the earlier game at HCMC’s Thong Nhat Stadium on Monday.

A still scoreless Vietnam suffered a shock blow when The Son scored an own goal in the 38th minute. They regained composure quickly to dominate play but took 47 nailbiting minutes to equalize.

Quoc Phuong leveled for the Vietnamese team in the 85th minute and Van Thanh finalized the game at 2-1 just two minutes later, giving his team the important victory in the group stage of the competition.

With the victory, Vietnam U19 secured top of Group B with three points and secured the first semifinals ticket. Singapore U21, who tied 1-1 with Malaysia U21 in their opener on Saturday, and Malaysia U21 have one point each.

The second Group B’s semifinals ticket will be decided on Wednesday when Vietnam U19 play Malaysia U21. The Vietnamese still go through win or lose.

Earlier, Thailand U21 crushed their counterparts from Myanmar 4-0. The Thai side controlled the game and Sokjoho and Hongthong scored two goals each for their team.

Thailand U21 and Vietnam U21 have three points from their first win but the Vietnamese side rank first of Group A thanks to the goal difference while  Myanmar exited from the annual tournament after suffering two losses. The Myanmar side lost 1-5 to Vietnam U21 in the opening game on Saturday. 

Vietnam will play archrivals Thailand in their final game to decide the leaders of Group A on Wednesday and the two teams only need a draw to advance to the semifinal round.

On Wednesday, Vietnam U19 will take on Malaysia U21 in the final Group B match at 3:30 p.m. and Vietnam U21 will play Thailand U21 in their final game in Group B at 6:00 p.m.

The International U.21 Football Tournament, at HCMC’s Thong Nhat Stadium from October 23-31, drew four foreign U21 squads from Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Myanmar together with Vietnam’s U21 and U19 teams.

The six teams play in round-robin format in two groups with the top two teams from each advancing to the semifinals. Group A comprises Vietnam U21, Myanmar U21 and Thailand U21 while Vietnam U19 are in Group B with Singapore U21 and Malaysia U21. 

The annual football event, which is sponsored by the Thanh Nien newspaper, is considered a key part of developing youth football talent in the country.

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