AS Roma beat Vietnam in U19 friendly
AS Roma defeated Vietnam 2-1 in their first match of the International U19 Football Tournament in HCM City on January 6.
Valerio Trani scored a double for the visiting side while Le Van Son found the only goal for the hosts.
The Vietnamese boys started the game in high spirits after recent successes, egged on by fans who had turned up in droves.
They quickly set the pace of the match with consecutive attacks since the whistle.
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| Phuong missed scoring chances in U19 Vietnam's debut at the tournament (Photo: Tung Le) |
Nguyen Cong Phuong and Hong Thanh Truong needed just eight minutes to produce the first threat of a goal against the Italians, but Roma custodian Lorenzo Zonfrilli had the better of the ensuring exchange.
Phuong proved to be the sharpest player for the hosts, repeatedly testing Zonfrilli continuously. He had the spectators stand up with a 13th minute strike, but his shot found the left pole and bounced back.
Just a minute later, Zonfrilli was defeated for the second time, but Phuong’s tap in was stopped just in time by a defender.
The Vietnamese treats did not faze the AS Roma players, however. They found the opening goal from a rapid counter-attack.
Daniele Verde, receiving the ball from Jacopo Ferri’s pass in the box, heeled it back to Trani, who ran in from the outside to slot the ball into a goal.
The hosts were able to level proceedings with a penalty i the 34th minute that striker Son duly converted.
The equaliser motivated the hosts to dominate the proceedings and create a series of opportunities, but they were unable to find the net. Train scored te winning goal for the visitors with a rapid run that left the Vietnamese defenders napping.
Coach Guiilaume Graechen’s effected two changes in the line up, but they did not work. His side came close to conceding a third goal in the 85th minute, when the Republic of Korean referee awarded a penalty to the hosts. Truong successfully stopped a straight shot by Adamo Matteo.
In thelast minute, Phuong missed another scoring chance with a shot that went straight into Zonfrilli’s hands.
Their victory helped AS Roma share top position with English Premier League’s Tottenham Hotspurs, who had earlier come from behind to beat Japan- 2-1 in the opening match.
In the next round n January 8, Vietnam will play Japan, and AS Roma will face Tottenham Hotspur.
The winners of the tournament, which will be decided after the third round on January 10, will win a bonus of US$100,000, a prize-money record for the tournament organised by the Vietnam Football Federation.