Hosts finish third at Bach Viet Cup after 4-1 defeat to Olympic Cameroon

* Olympic Finland win title on goal difference

 * Under-23 Vietnam are only team to find Olympic Cameroon”s net

Host Under-23 Vietnam failed to upset their stronger opponents Olympic Cameroon to finish runners-up at the Bach Viet Cup, which ended in Ho Chi Minh City on November 19. The hosts lost 4-1 despite a 1-0 lead with a goal by Cong Vinh. Earlier, Olympic Finland trounced Indonesia 5-0 to win the title. They led Olympic Cameroon on goal difference.

As in an earlier match, Olympic Finland trounced Indonesia 5-0, Olympic Cameroon had to beat Under-23 Vietnam with the smallest margin of four goals to win the title on goal difference.

Meanwhile, the hosts” hope of winning the tournament ended after Olympic Finland”s victory. Even if they had beaten Olympic Cameroon, they would have had a total of six points, while Olympic Finland had had a total of seven points.

However, the hosts started the game with great determination, despite playing strong opponents. There was only a change in the hosts” starting XI with striker Thanh Binh coming for injured Anh Duc to partner Cong Vinh in the attacking line.

In midfield, Duc Duong, after an excellent performance in the match against Indonesia two days ago, was the first choice before veteran Hong Minh alongside Van Bien, Minh Chuyen and Tan Tai. Quang Thanh, Minh Duc, Huy Hoang and Minh Thien were back four.

Olympic Cameroon were the side to have first opportunities. Makadji Buokar shot wide after just five minutes. Sixteen minutes later, goalkeeper Vinh Loi had to block a shot from a Cameroon player after centreback Minh Duc”s failed to clear the ball.

The hosts, despite being pressed by young players from Cameroon, surprisingly opened the scoring. In the 30th minute, striker Cong Vinh ran more quickly than two Cameroon defenders and made a sensitive touch, lobbing the ball over advancing Cameroon goalkeeper, to the net.

However, the home side”s joy lasted for just one minute as Boukar levelled the score with a low strike after Bekamengo”s neat pass beat all Vietnamese defenders.

Cong Vinh had an opportunity with a freekick but he shot over the bar in the 33rd minute. Two minutes later, Cong Vinh wasted a good opportunity as he failed to beat Cameroon goalkeeper after being released by Thanh Binh with a neat through ball.

Six minutes from halftime, goalkeeper Vinh Loi made to excellent saves to deny Cameroon players.

Five minutes into the second half, Boukar scored his second goal with a low strike to the near post after Minh Thien was unable to block a cross from the right wing.       

In the 61st minute, Bekamengo squared past centreback Huy Hoang but failed to beat Vinh Loi from a narrow angle. Sixteen minutes later, Bekamengo extended the lead with a sensational goal. After chesting down the ball, the Cameroon skipper turned past Anh Duc and beat Vinh Loi from a narrow angle.

The Cameroon side needed two more goals to win the title and they launched attack after attack on the Vietnamese defence. However, they scored one more goal by Mandjek in the 90th minute. They had two opportunities in the stoppage time but failed to find the net.

Under-23 Vietnam were the only team to find the net of Olympic Cameroon in the tournament. While Olympic Finland kept a clean sheet after three games.

In an earlier match, Olympic Finland trounced out-of-sort Indonesia 5-0 with a hat-trick by Porokara Roni, who eventually was voted as the Player of the Tournament. 

After three games, Olympic Finland and Olympic Cameroon had seven points with two victories and a draw. Olympic Finland led on goal difference to win the title, awarded US$40,000. Olympic Cameroon received a bonus of US$20,000.

Meanwhile, hosts Under-23 Vietnam finished third with an award of US$10,000, with three points. They lost two games and won one. Indonesia finished bottom with no points after three games.

Goalkeeper Vinh Loi was voted as best goalkeeper despite conceding four goals in the final games against Olympic Cameroon.

Captain Huy Hoang was best Vietnamese player of the tournament.

Nhan dan