After lunch time, the streets of Binh Dinh’s Quy Nhon Town were crowded with fans flocking to the stadium to support the young players in the opening match of Thanh Nien’s 2008 U.21 football championship.
In attendance were organizers, government, party and provincial officials, including Binh Dinh Party Committee chief Vu Hoang Ha, Deputy Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Huynh Vinh Ai, Binh Dinh’s People’s Committee Chairman Nguyen Van Thien and Vietnam Football Federation General Secretary Tran Quoc Tuan.
At 3 p.m., singers Quang Dung, Minh Thu and Han Thai Tuan warmed up the stadium with pop songs.
Binh Dinh artists also made the atmosphere exciting with drumming and a conical hat show by 600 school girls in traditional ao dai.
“The people of the land of martial artists [Binh Dinh] are honored and proud to host Thanh Nien’s 12th National Under 21 Football Final,” Binh Dinh People’s Committee Deputy Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Thanh Binh said during the ceremony. “This is the second time Binh Dinh has had the honor.”
“It is a good opportunity for football in the province to develop well. Also, the provincial football fans can bathe in the exciting moments of football and watch exciting matches,” Binh said.
Nguyen Cong Khe, who holds the titles of vice president of Vietnam Youth Federation, editor-in-chief of Thanh Nien newspaper and chief of the 2008 U.21 football final, thanked the people and leaders of Binh Dinh for cooperating with Thanh Nien to hold a successful football event.
Khe also paid tribute to organizers for creating an opportunity for young players to show off their talents and for talent scouts to get a look at the nation’s next generation of footballers.
After the ceremony, the first match between Boss Binh Dinh and An Do An Giang began with attacks from both teams.
Binh Dinh made use of star players Dinh Hiep, Tang Tuan, Trong Hoang and Thanh Sang to put pressure on the visitors from the Mekong Delta province of An Giang.
However, the home team’s strategy fell apart when the players failed to cooperate. An Giang made things more difficult for the hosts by moving fast and keeping close to their opponents.
Home team midfielders Trong Hoang, Thanh Tai and Quang Huy focused too much on attacking and didn’t give sufficient support for the defense.
In the 40th minute, central defender Ngoc Nguyen of Binh Dinh lostcontrol of the ball and Hai Dang of An Giang took the chance to score the opener.
Eight minutes into the second half, Binh Dinh’s defenders left enough space for An Giang’s Hai Dang to make a pass that found Van Moc who doubled the score for An Giang.
The home team fought back more fiercely after the second goal but their efforts were in vain with Dinh Hiep and Trong Hoang both shooting wide of the goal.
In the final minute, Dinh Hiep of Binh Dinh was sent off after receiving a second yellow card.
The host team can still advance to the semifinals if they win their other two matches.
Hai Dang of An Giang was voted the best player of the match.
In the later match between Dong Nai and Da Nang in the same group as An Giang and Binh Dinh, the team from southern Dong Nai Province held off the stronger players from central Da Nang City to keep the game scoreless.
The southern team’s goalie, 20-yearold Thanh Thang, saved all five shots for goal from the central region players.
Dong Nai’s Huu Phat and Duc Nhan wasted their team’s only two scoring opportunities.
After the first day, An Giang tops Group A with three points, followed by Da Nang with one point, Dong Nai with one point and Binh Dinh at the bottom with zero point.
Reported by Quang Huy |
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