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Viet Nam News - Powerhouses
Iran and Thailand secured their place in the ongoing International Under-21
Football Tournament semi-finals with their group competition wins in central
Hue City on Monday.
Iran, who crushed Singapore 6-0 in the group B opener last Saturday, edged
Myanmar 1-0 to top the group with six points.
Striker Jalaladin launched a close-range rocket past Myanamar goalie Thiha
Si Thu in the second half.
The last match in the group, between Myanmar and Singapore today, will
decide the second semi-final berth.
Myanmar only need a draw to make it into the semi-finals.
In the Group A match on Monday, Thailand thrashed Malaysia 4-1 to take top
place, ahead of Vietnam, who beat Malaysia 4-2 in the tournament
curtain-raiser last Saturday.
Thailand were shocked 11 minutes into the game when Nawaphon, who failed to
clear the ball in the penalty area, managed to score on his own goal. But
Thailand tied the score just seven minutes later, thanks to Rachanon
Sirnok's close shot.
After the break, Nirunrit fired a 25m cannon shot which glanced off a
Malaysian defender into the net, making the score 2-1.
Three minutes from the final whistle, Jirawut netted the ball followed by
his teammate Charin Boohad, who scored the last goal for Thailand in the
final seconds of the game.
Vietnam and Thailand, who already qualified for the semi-finals, will play
head-to-head for top place today, helping them avoid power-house Iran in the
semi-finals.
The International Under-21 Football Tournament, which has been recognised by
the Asian Football Confederation as a new international championship for
younger players in the region, has drawn teams from Thailand, Singapore,
Malaysia, Myanmar, Iran and Vietnam, to compete in a two group round robin
for the championship.
The two top teams will take semi-final berths and the final will be played
on Sunday. The winner will pocket a cash prize of US$10,000.
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