AsemconnectVietnam -  Vietnam’s U19 team lost to Qatar 1-4 in the first match of the four-nation international friendly tournament held in Qatar on September 16.

The visiting team played defensively from the first whistle. However, with the hometurf advantage, Qatar pressed early and managed to score three goals in the first half.

After the break, coach Hoang Anh Tuan changed his tactics and squad to get back in the match but they still conceded one more.

In the closing minutes of the game, Van Toi narrowed the gap to 1-4 for Vietnam with a goal from the 11m spot.

On September 19, Vietnam will meet Ivory Coast who lost to Uruguay 1-3.

The event is a warm up for Vietnam before they fly to Indonesia to take part in the 2018 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U19 Championship finals, which will run from October 18 to November 4, drawing the participation of 16 teams. Vietnam is in Group C with Australia, the Republic of Korea and Jordan.

The top four teams of the tournament will qualify for the 2019 FIFA U20 World Cup scheduled to take place in Poland next year.

In 2016, under head coach Hoang Anh Tuan, Vietnam progressed to the semi-final of the AFC U19 Championship and won a ticket to compete at the FIFA U20 World Cup.

Source:VNS/VNA