Logo

The Lao men's football U-23 squad will play the home team in Phnom Penh , Cambodia , today at this year's Cambodian International Football Tournament BIDC Cup, which runs from November 8-14.

The opponents will be the same team Lao players will compete against at the 25th SEA Games in Vientiane next month.

The Lao team's assistant manager Prasatxay Philaphandeth said yesterday the team would use the match to study Cambodia 's style closely. “We just want to compare our playing style with their style, as this will be very valuable for our team.”

He added that on Sunday, Cambodia won over Hoang Anh Gia Lai of Vietnam 3-2, after the Vietnamese team led 2-0 in the first half.

“We haven't seen them play for a long time so the Sunday match could prove that they got better after they got an experienced football coach,” Mr Prasatxay explained.

He said the Cambodian team at tonight's match would use more long balls, which is different to the Lao team's style of play which favours short balls, so the match would determine which is the better method.

The first day of the tournament saw Laos draw 1-1 with Vissai Ninh Binh of Vietnam and Cambodia come out on top over Hoang Anh Gia Lai.

Mr Prasatxay said the Lao team was very good, but could only draw with the Vietnamese team.

He said the Vietnamese team had many international players. They committed so many fouls in the penalty area they got four yellow cards, but Laos didn't get any.

“There are no certainties in this game, but we have to make sure we win so we can be a good host of the SEA Games,” Mr Prasaxay said.

On November 10, Vissai Ninh Binh will play Hoang Anh Gia Lai and Cambodia will play Laos , while on November 12 Laos will play Hoang Anh Gia and Cambodia will play Vissai Ninh Binh.

The finals will take place on November 14.

The Cambodian website http://roubroum.blogspot.com/ reported that the tournament will be broadcast live on Cambodian TV5 starting at 3.30 pm.

The tournament champion will win US$20,000, the runner-up US$10,000 and third place will take US$5,000.

The footballer voted best player will get US$1,000, and the top scorer and best goalkeeper will each get US$1,000.


By Souknilundon Southivongnorath
Vientianetimes
Photo: http://www.andybrouwer.co.uk