Vietnam’s football team Friday lost 1-0 to the Republic of Korea’s (RoK) junior varsity squad at Ho Chi Minh City’s Thong Nhat Stadium in the International HCMC Football Tournament 2008.

Despite a RoK player being red carded in the 31st minute, the host team couldn’t capitalize and didn’t create many scoring chances. Vietnam coach Henrique Calisto made six changes to the team that lost against Myanmar, but the players didn’t combine well and made bad passes.

The home team was at a loss how to split the RoK defenses, despite their obvious weaknesses.

The South Koreans finally scored in the 64th minute when Kim Hyo Gi headed home the game’s only goal while he was unmarked in the five-yard box.

“Our defenders played better than in the clash against Myanmar,” Calisto said. “But the strikers are still a big concern.”

RoK team coach Kang Yong Chul said, “We watched the game between Vietnam and Myanmar very carefully and employed a good strategy in the match today.”

In another match, Turkmenistan beat Myanmar 2-1. With their previous win over the RoK team on Wednesday, Turkmenistan will win the title, if they draw or win in the match with Vietnam tomorrow.

Reported by Quang Tuyen