25th SEA Games, Laos

The Lao men's under-23 football team proved their metal again on Saturday when they overpowered Thai Port FC, champions of the Thai Football Association 2009, by a score of 1-0 at the Chao Anouvong Stadium in Vientiane .

Lao football superstar Lamnao Singto scored the only goal of the match in the 29th minute after receiving a pass from midfield which he controlled from the right wing into the penalty area. His shot put the ball in the back of the net and gave Laos the lead in the first half.

Both teams went on the attack, but no more goals were forthcoming even though Thailand tried hard to pull one back and Laos was pushing for a second.

Another chance for Laos came in the 66th minute. Left winger Kaysone Soukhavong looked certain to shoot from the Thai penalty area but Thai defender Nontapan Jieasatawong used his hand to push the ball away from the goal mouth.

This earned him a yellow card and Laos was awarded a penalty. But Laos squandered their chance when Dao Khodsaiya shot the ball straight towards Thai goalkeeper Chalermkiat Sombatpun who managed to steer it clear of the goal.

Lao coach Alfred Riedl told reporters he was usually unhappy after a match because he always saw so many things that could be improved, even if they had been playing better.

“This time they played well - better than in previous matches - but I still saw mistakes we'll have to work on in training,” he said.

He said he thought Laos would get at least 4-0 in this match because the Thai team they played against in the 4 Nations Football Tournament was better than Thai Port FC.

“But in this match our players couldn't control the ball well enough because of some problems with the field. Otherwise, I believe they would have done better,” Mr Riedl said. Laos wanted to give all the players some practice so in the second half the coach made several substitutions.

“We needed to test all the players before the SEA Games. The next tournament in Cambodia is the last opportunity for international level matches so we'll play everyone,” Mr Riedl said.

The Lao team will participate in the Cambodian International Football Tournament BIDC Cup 2009 from November 4-18 in Phnom Penh .

This tournament will be more of a proving ground than the match with Thailand because Hoang Anh Gia Lai and Vissai Ninh Binh - top teams in the Vietnamese league – will compete.

Lao Team Manager Viphet Sihachackr said the recent run of matches was a strategy to improve the players by pitting them against stronger teams so they could learn from the experience ahead of the SEA Games. In Cambodia , the tournament schedules Vissai Ninh Binh vs Laos and Hoang Anh Gia Lai vs Cambodia on November 8, Vissai Ninh Binh vs Hoang Anh Gia Lai and Cambodia vs Laos on November 10, Laos vs Hoang Anh Gia and Cambodia vs Vissai Ninh Binh on November 12. The finals will take place on November 14.

Mr Reidl said the team must take care of themselves during these matches because there is just over a month before the SEA Games begin in Vientiane . While the matches in Cambodia will be good experience, the players must be careful not to pick up injuries.



By Souknilundon Southivongnorath
Vientianetimes