VietNamNet Bridge – The Vietnamese youth team trounced Laos 4-1 at Hang Day Stadium to set up a much awaited encounter with Thailand today in the Sport newspaper International U-19 Championship.
Vietnam are now on track to take the title, following a disappointing 1-1 draw with Malaysia in their opening game on Monday.
Vietnam will meet Thailand, who beat Malaysia 3-1 on Monday, in their final round-robin match today — the outcome of which will decide the overall winner.
Malaysia and Laos will also clash today in the third-place playoff.
Going in to the game on Wednesday needing a win, Vietnam got off to a nervous start, allowing Laos, coached by Vensavanh Sivisay, to dictate the run of play. Despite having the lion's share of the possession, the visitors failed to find the back of the net and the first half ended nil-nil.
The second half was a different story, and with just two minutes on the clock, Minh Thong pounced on a Lao defender's mistake to score the opener.
Looking to equalise, Laos pushed its players up, only to let Thong make a solo run past two defenders to get a second past keeper Chintana in the 56th minute.
Laos were thrown into confusion by Vietnam's second, and their defence became disorganised and clumsy.
The hosts went further ahead when Keoviengphet scored an own goal after failing to block a shot by Vietnam's captain Tan Dat. Nguyen Van Quyet then scored the hosts' fourth 15 minutes from time to secure victory.
Sopha Sayana scored a consolation for the visitors 10 minutes before the final whistle to make the final score 4-1.
Odds-on favourites Thailand were given a jolt when Malaysia's Thamil scored just three minutes into Wednesday's game.
But Thailand came back strongly in the second half with three goals from Anusom, Kroekrit and Charin.
They now lead the tournament with six points, two ahead of Vietnam, who need to beat Thailand today to take the title. The visitors on the other hand need only to secure a draw.
The winning team will receive US$3,000 in prize money. The two runners-up will receive $2,000 and $1,000 respectively. The winner of the fair-play category will pocket $500.
Laos U-19, again, lost to Malaysia 1: 2 Welcome back home Lao U-19
PETALING JAYA: Harimau Muda fought back from a goal down to beat Laos 2-1 in the last match of the invitational Under-19 quadrangular football tournament in Hanoi yesterday.
The Malaysians scored through Irfan Abdul Ghani and Ahmad Aminuddin Shaharuddin to finish third in the round-robin tournament.
Malaysia managed four points after holding Vietnam to a 1-1 draw in the opening game on Monday. In the second game, Malaysia lost 1-3 to Thailand.
The Thais drew 2-2 with Vietnam in their final round-robin match yesterday. The Thais had seven points and Vietnam five.
