Uong Ngoc Tien of Viet Nam missed a penalty, wasting a chance for his team to automatically advance to the final round of the Asian Football Confederation U16 Championship next year.

Slide tackle: Defender Nguyen Xuan Kien of Viet Nam (right) tackles Jacon Italiano of Australia during their AFC U16 Championship qualification. Australian won 1-0. — Photo vff.org.vn

This followed, as Viet Nam lost 0-1 to Australia in the last Group J match of the qualification in Ha Noi yesterday, Sept 20.
Further, Tien failed to convert his shot into a goal after a powerful kick struck goalkeeper’s Jacob Botic cross bar at the 61st minute.
Earlier, defender Mersim Memeti opened the scoring at the 30th mark of the first half, after the visitors set up their domination, displaying better form and stronger physiques.
The Joeys then successfully defended their goal, despite threatening attempts of the hosts in the final 20 minutes.
Australia’s impressive campaign brought them the only ticket for the group winner to the finals.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, coach Dinh The Nam of Viet Nam spoke of his regret about the loss.
“Viet Nam was as strong as Australia in this match. We created many chances, but could not convert them to goals. It is football, so when we cannot score, we lose,” said Nam.
The coach, however, said he was satisfied with how his players performed.
“My players strictly followed my tactics, but they still had a disadvantage due to their nervousness and physiques, which must be improved if we are to enter the finals. They need more training and competition in the future,” he said.
Meanwhile, coach Antony Vidmar of the Australian side said his team played well.
The players controlled more of the ball throughout the entire match, but they also suffered problems from being mentally fatigued, he added.
Meanwhile, Myanmar finished their qualifiers in style, as Eric Williams’ charges thrashed rock bottom Guam 10-0 to finish third.
Despite previous defeats to Australia and Viet Nam, ensuring they could not qualify for next year’s continental gathering in India, Myanmar ran out comfortable winners courtesy of a four-goal haul from striker Kyaw Kyaw Htet, as well as Htun Sai’s hat trick and further strikes from Bo Bo Aung, Thet Paing Htoo and substitute Hein Htet Aung.
The result saw Myanmar finish third in the group, ahead of Guam, who failed to garner a point.
Eleven group winners and four best second-place teams will come together in India for next year’s finals, with the tournament hosts receiving an automatic qualification.
Should India finish on top of their qualifying group, or among the four best second-placed teams, the fifth best second-placed nation will qualify for the final competition.
Viet Nam still has to wait until all matches of the qualifier have been completed to learn if they are among the best four second-place squads.

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The Vietnam Football Federation said the national men’s football team would play a friendly match with the Philippines on October 3.

This is part of the preparations for the 2018 FIFA World Cup/2019 Asian Cup joint qualifiers.
Coach Toshiya Miura is likely to call strikers Le Van Thang of Can Tho and Nguyen Anh Duc of Becamex Binh Duong for the match.
As scheduled, Vietnam will host Iraq on October 10 before playing Thailand on October 13 in the qualifiers.
Earlier, Vietnam defeated Chinese Taipei 2-1 at the Municipal Stadium in Chinese Taipei, raising its hopes of winning a berth in Group F of the World Cup 2018.

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Not just coach Dinh The Nam of Viet Nam, but managers of three other teams are also hoping to win a ticket to the Asian Football Confederation U16 Championship’s final.

Coach Dinh The Nam of Viet Nam (centre) talks with his players during a training day in Ha Noi. Viet Nam will play Myanmar in the opening match of the Asian Football Confederation U16 Championship qualification’s Group J today.

Viet Nam are in Group J along with Australia, Guam and Myanmar in the qualification round.
“We have one month training ahead of this qualifying round. Players are selected from the best national football training hubs who have experience playing with several local rivals at a higher level,” Nam said at a pre-tournament press conference in Ha Noi yesterday.
“After the ASEAN tournament, the coaching board has made efforts to remove our weaknesses. My team is on the right track now and we are ready,” Nam said.
The coach added that the Asian U-16 qualifier is a more difficult competition in comparison to the regional one, although it is also for young players.
“One of the key elements is the strong spirit of the participants who have not played too many games in their career. So, my team will have to try and win every match, especially the ones against Myanmar and the strongest one Australia,” Nam said.
“All the teams want to advance to the final and Viet Nam is no exception.”
Vietnamese captain Nguyen Trong Long also took part in the press conference yesterday.
He said the Vietnamese players fell a little pressure but hoped that the support of home fans will be a strong motivator for them to achieve the best result.
Coach Eric Williams of Myanmar appreciated the hosts who they will meet in the opening match today at the National Youth Football Training Centre.
“Tomorrow will be tough for us, as I have watched the Vietnamese players competing during the ASEAN tournament. We will have to give off our best if we want a win,” he said.
Myanmar have not been able to prepare carefully for the event as their training abroad was cancelled. The team practiced locally and had several matches against some young squads of domestic clubs.
Also speaking at the press conference yesterday, Peter De Roo of Australia confirmed that there were several players in his team with skilled techniques, but their strong point was team unity.
Roo said Viet Nam were a well-organised team and would be difficult rivals for anyone.
The Australians arrived in Viet Nam six days before the competition to familiarise themselves with the weather and the field. And he expected his players to show their best form when the games kicked off.
Meanwhile, Guam are the best-prepared squad with a training course in South Korean coach Kim Sang Won’s home country where they played four local teams.
Kim said he was really satisfied with what they had done, especially in the area of physique.
“Guam played pretty well recently thanks to some players who are taking part in competitions in the United States. In the near future we will be even better, as we have our own national football academy and a programme to promote youth football,” Kim said.
Forty-five teams, which will play in the qualifying stage, have been divided into 11 groups.
In each group, the teams will play each other once at a central venue. The 11 group winners and the four best runners-up from all groups will qualify for the final tournament, which will be hosted by India. As hosts, India have qualified automatically, but will also compete in the qualifiers.
If India are among the group winners or the best runner-up, the fifth-best runner-up will also qualify for the final.

Source VNS