Illustrative image (Source: VOV) Hanoi(VNA) - Thailand will meet Yokohama in the final match of the InternationalU-21 Football Tournament, to be held in Ho Chi Minh City on December 27.
Meanwhile, Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAGL) will play Vietnam inthe playoff match to determine third-place, to be played on the same day.
Thailand beatVietnam 3-1 in the semi-final on December 25, while in other semi-final matchon December 24, Yokohama defeated Hoang Anh Gia Lai 3-2 in the penaltyshootout, after drawing goalless in regular time.
From a corner kick by his teammate, midfielder Bui TienDung put his header past the Thai goalkeeper and opened the score for Vietnam inthe third minute.
In the 14th minute,Chenrop Samphaodi levelled the score for Thailand.
Thailand continued creating dangeroussituations towards the Vietnamese goal. From a mistake by Vietnamese defenders,Sasalak Haiprakhon raised the score to 2-1 for the visitors in the 31st minute.
After the break,Vietnam played attack to score more goals. However, Netiphong Sanmahungfixed the score at 3-1 for Thailand in the 56th 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 severalchances to score goals, but they failed.
Meanwhile, Coach Tomonobu Hayakawa of Yokohama saidHAGL played very well. He was also impressed by striker Nguyen Van Toan in thismatch, and said Toan played with great effort and had the potential to becomean international footballer.
Earlier, Myanmar wonfifth place after beating Gangwon of South Korea 5-4 in the penalty shootout(the two teams tied 3-3).-VNA
