Vietnamese under-19 striker Cong Phuong has been featured in sports papers in England and Vietnam after he scored a fantastic goal in the team’s 1-0 win over Australia yesterday in Hanoi.

Vietnamese striker Cong Phuong celebrates his goal in the match with Australia at Nutifood Cup in Hanoi on September 5

The clash was part of the Southeast Asian U-19 Football Championship, or Nutifood Cup, taking place from September 5-13 in the Vietnamese capital.

Phuong received the ball at midfield and dribbled past three Australian players before curving a shot into the far corner of the Aussie goal.

Alex Harris of the Daily Express, at http://www.express.co.uk, an English publication, wrote, “Nguyen Cong Phuong may be a name unfamiliar to Arsenal fans, but the youngster may soon be a Gunners star.

“He has come to prominence today after footage emerged of him scoring a fantastic goal to settle an AFF Under-19 Championship match for his home national against Australia.

“Phuong… beats a number of players with his fancy footwork before firing home a stunning strike from inside the box.”

The youngster is currently part of Hoang Anh Gia Lai – Arsenal’s JMG Academy in Vietnam, and the striker has already been dubbed ‘the Vietnamese Messi’, he wrote. The Barcelona superstar would be proud of such a strike.

Another online paper, www.101greatgoals.com, commented that, “Arsenal fans may never see Nguyen Cong Phuong in their beloved red jersey, but right now the Gunners prospect is doing his utmost to convince Arsene Wenger and colleagues that he’s worth bringing over to England!”

In Vietnam, newspapers won’t regret their praise of Phuong’s trademark goal yesterday.

Phuong and his U-19 national team players have created a fever among local fans, with ticket price to watch Vietnam’s matches at the Nutifood Cup increasing by several factors.

The most expensive match tickets, normally sold for VND100,000 (US$4.8), were sold yesterday for VND400,000. A VND40,000 ($1.9) ticket was sold for VND200,000, and a VND70,000 ($3.4) ticket went for VND250,000 ($12).

Most players on the Vietnamese U-19 national team are trainees from the Hoang Anh Gia Lai – Arsenal JMG football academy, based in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai. They have completed six out of seven years of their training program at the Arsenal-supported football academy, which was established in 2007.

Source: Tuoitrenews