Hoang Anh Gia Lai shoot champions out in under-21 semis
Hoang Anh Gia Lai beat defending champions Binh Dinh 4-2 in penalty shootout in the second semi-final on October 6 to reach the final of Thanh Nien…
Despite being considered as possible favourites, defending champions Binh Dinh started the game cautiously with five players in their back line.
Meanwhile, it was a nice surprise for Hoang Anh Gia Lai to reach the last four round after a draw with hosts Da Nang. They, therefore, started the semi-final against the champions brilliantly. They took a 1-0 lead after just eight minutes. Tang Tuan, who eventually was voted as Man of the Match, unmarked, headed home the opener after a cross from the right flank by Cong Luan.
Going 1-0 down, Binh Dinh made great efforts to return to the game and created opportunities. Seven minutes after Hoang Anh Gia Lai opened the scoring, Binh Dinh had a golden chance to equalise when their playmaker Hoang Lam was in a one-on-one situation with goalkeeper Cong Vuong, but the player finished just wide. Two minutes later, Van Thinh from Binh Dinh was unlucky as he beat Hoang Anh Gia Lai goalkeeper with a header but was denied by the woodwork.
Hoang Anh Gia Lai extended the lead with Tang Tuan finishing off Cong Phong”s good work from a close range.
The champions then had no choice but to fight back. However, they had to wait until the final minute of the first half to pull back a goal. Ngoc Tri ghosted pasted two Hoang Anh Gia Lai defenders before setting up Minh Sen to score.
In the second half, Hoang Anh Gia Lai tried to defend their victory, which was cancelled out by Minh Sen, who scored his second goal.
Drawing 2-2 after fulltime, the two sides had to compete on penalty shootout. Hoang Anh Gia Lai players were successful four times with Tang Tuan, Duy Trung, The Hai and Van Thuan finding the net. Gia Hoang missed.
Meanwhile, Binh Dinh were successful twice in four attempts with Ngoc Tri and Anh Viet missing.
Champions Binh Dinh shared third place with Midako Nam Dinh, who lost 4-2 in shootout against Pomina Steel Tien Giang in the first semi-final on October 5.
Nhan dan
