U-19 Nutifood Cup 2014
Thong Nhat Stadium, Ho Chi Minh City
Friday 10th January 2014, 6.10pm

VIETNAM U-19  2(0)  v  3(1)  SPURS U-19

  (All Red)                   (White/Blue)
    4-3-3                        4-3-3

Vietnam – L.E.Truong, Son, Trieu, Thiet, L.X.Troung(C)(Manh 31), Duy, Anh, Toan(Phong 58), Phuong(Ant Ti 80), Huy, Tung

Scorers – Son 57, Huy 58

Spurs – McGee, Vincent-Young(Walker-Peters 72), Dombaxe, McQueen(C), Amos(Ogilvie 58), Onomah, Lesniak, Goddard(Winks 46), Sonupe(Miller 46), Akindayini, Oduwa(Harrison 60)

Scorers – Akindayini 14, Lesniak 60 (pen), Trieu o.g. 74

Booked – Dombaxe 59 (Dissent)

Attendence 18,000 appox.

Ref – Yong

This was the last match of the tournament played in a full stadium at prime time for the locals. AS Roma lost to Japan 1-0 in the earlier game to hand the title to Japan who had a better goal difference with two wins apiece. Spurs needed to beat hosts Vietnam 7-0 to pip Japan and win the tournament. I watched the first half before having to go out and watched the second half on YouTube later which is why this report is later than usual.

Spurs lined up with McGee in goal behind McQueen and Dombaxe with Vincent-Young at right back and Amos on the left. Lesniak anchored the midfield with Onomah and Goddard in support of Akindayini who led the line with Sonupe on his right and Oduwa on his left.

Spurs kicked off the first half which quickly developed into a fast-paced end to end game. The hosts were very quick to close down Spurs and spring forward on the counter while Spurs used the wings where Sonupe and Oduwa were getting the better of their markers.

Huy drew an early save before Sonupe headed over from Goddard's cross and then fired over with his next effort. Anh hit a free kick well over before Spurs went in front. Vincent-Young got round the back and pulled the ball back for Akindayini to stab home. Sonupe had a weak effort saved and Onomah got through to draw a save. After Vietnam wasted a free kick Oduwa crossed for Akindayini to force another save from Troung. Onomah drove wide before playing Oduwa in down the left for an effort that flew over. McGee saved from Phuong as the half ended.

The TV channel missed the start of the second half so it took a couple of minutes to realise that Spurs had made a couple of changes. Winks had come on for Goddard in the midfield and Miller had replaced Sonupe to work on the left flank with Oduwa switching to the right side.

A free kick into the near post was turned wide by Akindayini before Ogilvie replaced Amos at left back. The young defender did not have time to settle before an attack on that side saw a shot across the goal that was not cleared by Vincent-Young. The ball ran to Son to fire home.

Spurs tried to respond but were caught on the counter when Huy was played through and went on to score. He did look a yard offside but the flag stayed down. Two goals in a minute had turned the score-line around. That was not the end of it as Oduwa won a penalty in the next minute when he was caught by a sliding tackle in the area. The Spurs man had to go off after treatment that delayed the penalty from being taken. Dombaxe was shown a yellow card by the referee for something he said before Lesniack took the penalty. The Slovakian put the ball into the left corner of the net to draw Spurs level. There had been three goals in a four minute spell.

Harrison came on in place of the injured Oduwa and soon had an effort that flew over. Vincent-Young was replaced by Walker-Peters in a more attacking role on the right. Phong fired over before Onomah played the ball out to Miller on the left and his cross/shot was turned in by Trieu for an own goal, to give Spurs the lead again.

While Spurs began to think about closing the game out the Vietnamese pushed men forward. McGee saved from Huy and another long shot before Onomah drove wide on the break. Anh fired over and McGee saved from Puong, then Phuong and then Puong again as Spurs dropped deep leaving Akindayini up on his own. Walker-Peters got down the right and crossed for Harrison to win a corner from Truong. Harrison had another chance when Onomah got down the left and whipped in a cross that the young striker could not reach. Onomah got down the left again but his shot was saved by Truong with Miller firing the rebound over at the far post. Right on the final whistle the hosts fired over.

The win boosted Spurs into second place in the final standing. Three teams ended with six points each so it went on goal difference. Japan, thanks to their 7-0 win over the hosts, took the trophy and the $100,000 top prize. Spurs and Roma had a goal difference of one but Spurs scored two goals more than the Italians so finish second picking up $70.000 in prize money leaving the Italians with $50,000 for third place. The Academy players return home to prepare for their first match back which will be away to Chelsea on Saturday the 18th January at Cobham.

Ray

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