Lao U-23 beats Thai Port 1-0

(KPL) The Lao men’s under-23 football team overpowered the Thai Port FC, champion of the Thai Football Association 2009, by a score 1-0 in Sunday’s match at the Chao Anouvong Stadium in Vientiane.

The Lao football superstar Lamnao Singto scored the only goal of the match at 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 into the goal of Thai players.

Lao coach Alfred Riedl said that he was unhappy with the match because he saw many shortcomings that needed to be improved, even his team had been playing better.

“This time they played well – better than previous matches – but I still saw mistakes and we have to work on these in training,” Mr. Alfred said.

He said that the team needed to test their competitive skills before the SEA Games and the next tournament in Cambodia was the last opportunity for the Lao team’s international matches. The Lao players will participate in the Cambodian International Football Tournament BIDC Cup 2009 on November 4-18 in Phnom Penh.

The Cambodian tournament is said to be more challenging than the match with Thailand because Hoang Anh Gia Lai and Vissai Ninh Binh – top teams in the Vietnamese league will compete.

Laos is scheduled to meet Vissai Ninh Binh on November 8, Cambodia on November 10 and Hoang Anh Gia on November 12. The finals for this tournament 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 and they must be careful.

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 Vientiane Games 2009, according to Lao Team Manager Viphet Sihachack.

KPL Lao News Agency