Thanh Binh stars as under-23s win Cup Agribank

Young striker Phan Thanh Binh shone, scoring twice, to help the Vietnamese under-23 football team win the Agribank Cup after a 2-1 victory over the Japanese under-20s in the My Dinh National Stadium on October 30. Coach Alfred Riedl”s men won the trophy after three victories at the tournament and were awarded US$40,000 as bonus.

After achieving a 2-1 crucial victory over their bitter” rivals, Thai under-23s, on the second match-day of the Agribank Cup, coach Riedl and his men needed a draw to lift the trophy.

However, the under-23s had a poor start and it was the Japanese team to dominate the game in the first half. Coach Alfred Riedl, as usual, made no changes in starting XI with Van Quyen continuing to partner Thanh Binh in the forward line even though Van Quyen looked his shadow of the best Vietnamese players two years ago.

Host midfield, with Tan Tai, Quoc Vuong, Tai Em and Quoc Anh, was outplayed by determined young Japanese players, who needed a victory to win the cup. In the first ten minutes, the Japanese under-20s put a heavy pressure on the host defensive line.

However, it was Van Quyen to have the first scoring opportunity in the sixth minute but his freekick was blocked by the Japanese goalkeeper. The Japanese team replied immediately with attacks. In the 17th and 18th minutes, Vietnamese goalkeeper Quang Huy and defenders worked hard to stop the Japanese players from opening the scoring. However, efforts of Japanese players paid off as in the 20th minute as Suzuki Kenji was quicker than Vietnamese defenders to net from a close range after Kuwada Shinichiro”s freekick hit the post and bounced on Kenji”s path.

Going 1-0 down, the Vietnamese team played better. In the 23rd minute, Japanese goalkeeper Matsui Kenya made two saves to deny the Vietnamese under-23s. In the 37th minute, Thanh Binh”s back header was blocked by the goalkeeper.

After the break, coach Alfred Riedl replaced left winger Quoc Anh with Van Bien and Vietnamese under-23s attacks on the left flank became sharper. However, over 40,000 spectators, who went to the stadium despite cold weather, had to wait until the 55th minute to celebrate. Van Bien made a through ball to set up Thanh Binh in the penalty box and the striker after a good control cannoning a quick strike to the near corner, levelling the score. Earlier, Van Quyen, Thanh Binh and Tan Tai failed to score, wasting opportunities.

Boosted by Thanh Binh”s equaliser, the Vietnamese under-23s played better with counter attacks. In the 71st minute, Van Quyen wasted a golden chance as he lost possession to the defender of the Japanese under-20s when he was in a head-to-head situation against the Japanese goalkeeper.

Thanh Binh sealed his excellent performance with a wonderful winner five minutes from time. Receiving a long ball from midfield, Thanh Binh brought the ball near the right edge of the penalty box before lobbing the ball over the Japanese advancing goalkeeper.

Before and after Thanh Binh”s winner, the Japanese under-20s had some opportunities but they failed to net thanks to good performance of goalkeeper Quang Huy.

Striker Van Quyen ended his poor performance with the second yellow card in the match when the match went to stoppage time.

The under-23s won the tournament with nine points. The Thai under-23s, who gained a 1-0 narrow victory over the Malaysian under-23s, finished runners-up with six points and were awarded US$20,000; and the Japanese under-20s came third with a bonus of US$10,000.

Thanh Binh was awarded US$1,000 as top scorer while his team mate Quoc Vuong was selected as Player of the Tournament and awarded two taels of 3A gold.

After the 2-1 victory over Japan, the Vietnamese under-23s were awarded VND 100 million more by the Vietnam Football Federation. Earlier, they were awarded a total of VND 250 million for two victories over Malaysia and Thailand.

Talking after the match, coach Alfred Riedl said that he was satisfied with his men, who make an excellent comeback to win 2-1. The coach went on to say that it was no surprise at Thanh Binh”s goals but it was a surprise when the defensive line did not let the Japanese team net more. While coach Yuji of the Japanese under-20s said that the hosts played with great domination and they deserved to win.

(Source: NhanDan)