LAOS GOALKEEPER SHINES AGAIN

The first semi-final match was an evenly matched match between Life University (Cambodia) and Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism. As coach Nguyen Cong Thanh had announced before the match, the Thanh team played an open game against the Cambodian representative. The defending champion of the 2025 Vietnamese Youth Football Championship was the team that created the first dangerous move of the match. In the 26th minute, taking advantage of the awkwardness of the Life University defenders, the strikers of Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism continuously launched shots but could not score. In the second half of the first half, the team from Cambodia clearly showed their physical advantage to play aggressively against the Vietnamese representative. The penalty area and the goal of goalkeeper Thatsa Xaiyasone (Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism) were always on alert. In the 32nd minute, the Life University team responded with a beautiful volley from Chan Meta from outside the penalty area, beating goalkeeper Xaiyasone, but not hitting the crossbar.

PHOTO: INDEPENDENCE

The second half was when the Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism played more coherently to control the game. The Vietnamese representative's attacks appeared more frequently, thanks to the mobility of midfielders with good techniques such as Dao Trong Tung and Ngan Nhu Dung. However, facing the Life University team with a fast pressing style of play and a well-organized defense system, coach Nguyen Cong Thanh's team was stuck in finding a way to the opponent's goal. In the second half, the speed of the match remained high. However, both teams did not create any dangerous situations that could lead to a goal.

The 0-0 draw after 80 minutes of official play forced the two teams to decide the winner on a penalty shootout. In the "shootout", Lao goalkeeper Thatsa Xaiyasone once again played the hero role when he successfully blocked two shots from the opponent, helping Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism win 4-2 against Life University and become the first team to win a ticket to the final match of the 2025 International Youth Football Tournament - THACO Cup. Previously, in the semi-final match of the 2025 Vietnamese Youth Football Tournament, Thatsa Xaiyasone also shone in the penalty shootout to help the Thanh team reach the final (and then win the championship), when defeating Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry. After the match, head coach Nguyen Cong Thanh could not hide his joy: "The opponent was very strong, but we played hard and were rewarded accordingly. Life University Team

Thanh Hoa Culture, Sports and Tourism wanted to settle the match during regular time but could not do so. However, we had also prepared carefully for the penalty shootout and were lucky to win the match in the end."

LAOS FOOTBALL TEAM CREATES SURPRISE

In the second semi-final, the team that was considered the top candidate for the championship, University of Malaysia, had a hard time against the team that was considered weaker, University of Laos. The representative of Malaysian student football played aggressively, especially in the first half. The students of head coach Mohd Yahya created terrible pressure on the goal of the team from the land of a million elephants. However, luck was not on the side of the Malaysian representative. The most regrettable thing was that Aman Kaswadi's dangerous header in an open space at the beginning of the match sent the ball to the crossbar of the University of Laos goal.

The Lao University team unexpectedly rose strongly in the second half. Coach Amphaivanh Chanthalavong's students showed that their physical strength was not inferior to their opponents, playing persistently and proactively offering their squad to play tit for tat with the Malaysian University team. After tireless efforts, the Lao University team took the lead with a timely goal by former Laos U.19 striker Thanousack in the 68th minute. In the 76th minute, the Malaysian University team equalized 1-1 thanks to Hariz Husaini. The second semi-final match had to be decided by a penalty shootout. The Lao University team created a big shock when they won 4-3 against the Malaysian University team and advanced to the final.

The final match of the 2025 International Student Competition - THACO Cup between Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Lao University will take place at 4:30 p.m. on March 30. At 8:30 a.m. on March 30, Life University (Cambodia) and Malaysia University will meet in the third place match.