Vietnam team celebrates with the AFF Under-15 Championship trophy in Thailand (Photo vff.org.vn)Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam’s national U15 team returned home onJuly 23 with the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Under-15 Championship trophyheld in Thailand.
The team beat hosts Thailand 4-2 on penalties to lift only theirsecond crown in the 13-year history of the meet on July 22.
“The final between Vietnam and Thailand is over, but I still getthe happy feeling. My players beat Thailand on Thai ground. This win isdedicated to all the Vietnamese fans,” coach Vu Hong Viet said to the media at NoiBai International Airport.
"There is no secret to the Vietnam team’s success, but it wasmy players’ confidence that worked. During the training sessions, before andafter every match, I would often tell them ’the training board believes in you,and you will take the title, although your rival is Thailand’,” Viet said.
"The confidence and focus helped Vietnam develop theirfitness, as well as improved their skill and raised their spirits during thematch, and they triumphed in the tournament meritoriously,” Viet added.
The score at the end of the official 80 minutes match was 0-0.
Vietnam was never over-awed by the occasion, and they took on theconfident Thais blow by blow.
The visitors played in a defence-attack style, since the refereeblew his whistle, while the Thai players tried to push the Vietnamese playersinto a passive situation.
However, the hosts’ design failed in front of the calm andconfident Vietnam team.
Thailand created a chance in the 15th minute through WoragonThongbai, but Thanarin Thumsen missed the plot completely with a weak shot. Inreply, Vietnam sent in a clever lob when Thai keeper Anuchid Taweesri was outof position.
However, the ball narrowly missed the upright.
The second half was again a string of missed chances, as both Vietnamand Thailand were not able to make the breakthrough. The two sides then had togo to the penalty shootout to decide the winner.
Vietnamese players carried out all the four penaltiessuccessfully. Goalkeeper Nguyen Duy Dung shone in the match, when he stoppedtwo attempts by the hosts to help Vietnam win 4-2.
Coach Salvador Garcia of Thailand admitted that Vietnam was morestable during the penalty shootout. Vietnam directed the match towards anunexpected result. They created pressure on the Thai players.
Receiving the news of Vietnam winning the AFF trophy, Minister ofCulture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Ngoc Thien sent a congratulatory message tothe team and wished they try their best in training and competition.
In the other match, Australia emerged third in this year’scompetition when they beat Malaysia 3-2.
The AFF championship, hosted by Thailand, saw the first edition ofthe tourney in the under-15 category, after having reverted from a traditionallyunder-16 competition.-VNA
The team beat hosts Thailand 4-2 on penalties to lift only theirsecond crown in the 13-year history of the meet on July 22.
“The final between Vietnam and Thailand is over, but I still getthe happy feeling. My players beat Thailand on Thai ground. This win isdedicated to all the Vietnamese fans,” coach Vu Hong Viet said to the media at NoiBai International Airport.
"There is no secret to the Vietnam team’s success, but it wasmy players’ confidence that worked. During the training sessions, before andafter every match, I would often tell them ’the training board believes in you,and you will take the title, although your rival is Thailand’,” Viet said.
"The confidence and focus helped Vietnam develop theirfitness, as well as improved their skill and raised their spirits during thematch, and they triumphed in the tournament meritoriously,” Viet added.
The score at the end of the official 80 minutes match was 0-0.
Vietnam was never over-awed by the occasion, and they took on theconfident Thais blow by blow.
The visitors played in a defence-attack style, since the refereeblew his whistle, while the Thai players tried to push the Vietnamese playersinto a passive situation.
However, the hosts’ design failed in front of the calm andconfident Vietnam team.
Thailand created a chance in the 15th minute through WoragonThongbai, but Thanarin Thumsen missed the plot completely with a weak shot. Inreply, Vietnam sent in a clever lob when Thai keeper Anuchid Taweesri was outof position.
However, the ball narrowly missed the upright.
The second half was again a string of missed chances, as both Vietnamand Thailand were not able to make the breakthrough. The two sides then had togo to the penalty shootout to decide the winner.
Vietnamese players carried out all the four penaltiessuccessfully. Goalkeeper Nguyen Duy Dung shone in the match, when he stoppedtwo attempts by the hosts to help Vietnam win 4-2.
Coach Salvador Garcia of Thailand admitted that Vietnam was morestable during the penalty shootout. Vietnam directed the match towards anunexpected result. They created pressure on the Thai players.
Receiving the news of Vietnam winning the AFF trophy, Minister ofCulture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Ngoc Thien sent a congratulatory message tothe team and wished they try their best in training and competition.
In the other match, Australia emerged third in this year’scompetition when they beat Malaysia 3-2.
The AFF championship, hosted by Thailand, saw the first edition ofthe tourney in the under-15 category, after having reverted from a traditionallyunder-16 competition.-VNA
VNA
