HCMC – North Korea won the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) Sonha Cup after beating hosts Vietnam 2-0 at My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi on Saturday.
Singapore secured second place defeating South Korea’s U23 2-0 in an earlier game on the same day in the round robin tournament.
Vietnam wanted to keep cup at home, needing to win by an almost impossible three goals in the game. The hosts, with only one point from the two opening games, needed that decisive win, but North Korea that had four points from their previous win and draw only needed to stay within two points of the hosts for victory.
The home side had suffered a 0-2 loss to South Korea U23 in the opener and tied 1-1 with Singapore in the second game, while North Korea earned a 2-1 win over Singapore in the first game and tied 1-1 with South Korea U23 in the second game.
The North Korean team participated in the friendly tournament with their strongest squad. North Korea were considered hot favourites with six of their best players, who attended the World Cup 2010 in South Africa in June, in their lineup.
Though Vietnam started the game without striker Nguyen Viet Thang, midfielder Pham Thanh Luong and midfielder Nguyen Trong Hoang, the Vietnamese side were confident as they had the home ground advantage.
Starting quickly, Vietnam began the first half with more attacks and stronger pressure but their forwards missed the net.
The visitors started the game slowly managing a few chances but the first half ended goalless.
The Vietnamese players dominated the ball possession in the first minutes of the second half but North Korea surprised in the 55th when Myong Cha Hyon netted for his team with a header after receiving the ball from Ri Pyong Chol in the left wing.
Their joy was doubled just 10 minutes later when Rin Jin Hyok beat the Vietnamese keeper Duong Hong Son with an unstoppable kick after a great cross from teammate Kang Kuk Chol, who beat the defenders’ offside trap.
Despite strong attacks in the last minutes, the Vietnamese were left frustrated by the defense without a point.
North Korea finished the four-day, four-team round-robin tournament in top spot with seven points. Singapore and South Korea U23 both ended on four points with Singaporean securing second spot on goal difference. The host team came fourth.
The North Koreans won a cash prize of US$20,000 ,while Singapore and South Korea U23collected US$10,000 and US$5,000 respectively.
