Football

HÀ NỘI — Thailand will meet Yokohama in the final match of the International U-21 Football Tournament, to be held in HCM City tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Hoàng Anh Gia Lai (HAGL) will play Việt Nam in the playoff match to determine third-place, to be played on the same day.

Thailand beat Việt Nam 3-1 in the semi-final yesterday, while in other semi-final match on Saturday Yokohama defeated Hoàng Anh Gia Lai 3-2 in the penalty shootout, after drawing goalless in regular time.

From a corner kick by his teammate, midfielder Bùi Tiến Dũng put his header past the Thai goalkeeper and opened the score for Việt Nam in the third minute.

In the 14^th minute, Chenrop Samphaodi levelled the score for Thailand.

Thailand continued creating dangerous situations towards the Vietnamese goal. From a mistake by Vietnamese defenders, Sasalak Haiprakhon raised the score to 2-1 for the visitors in the 31^st minute.

After the break, Việt Nam played attack to score more goals. However, Netiphong Sanmahung fixed the score at 3-1 for Thailand in the 56^th minute.

Although reigning champions HAGL lost to Yokohama, coach Guillaume Graechen is still pleased about his team.

 “I am very disappointed about the match’s result, but I am very satisfied with our players’ performance,” said Graechen.

HAGL players played very skillfully and created several chances to score goals, but they failed.

Meanwhile, Coach Tomonobu Hayakawa of Yokohama said HAGL played very well. He was also impressed by striker Nguyễn Văn Toàn in this match, and said Toàn played with great effort and had the potential to become an international footballer.

Earlier, Myanmar won fifth place after beating Gangwon of South Korea 5-4 in the penalty shootout (the two teams tied 3-3). — VNS