The U21 Vietnamese players struggled to a goalless draw with Thailand on Tuesday but advanced to the semifinals of the International U21 Football Tournament anyway.

Vietnam started the match cautiously with an advantage because it just needed a draw to progress while Thailand had to win since Vietnam had lost only 2-3 to Singapore while Thailand had gone down 1-3 to Singapore in Group A’s first and second rounds.

Using a 4-1-4-1 formation, coach Tran Tan Thong had captain Pham Nguyen Sa play as a sweeper in front of the penalty area and Duc Tai as the only striker up front.

Vietnam’s faulty counterattack strategy made it possible for Thailand to dominate the midfield and put the home team under constant pressure.

However, substitute goalkeeper Nguyen Anh Hoang, who replaced Xuan Nam, was exceptional and made several wonderful saves.

Vietnam played attacking football after the break and eased the pressure on the goalkeeper, though without much effect until substitute striker Cong Thao went on midway through the second half.

However, the home team failed to convert the few chances that presented themselves even after Pitayapat of Thailand was given his second yellow card and sent off 10 minutes from full time.

The failure of their forwards to finish off the big moves towards goal will be a big problem when the Vietnamese U21s clash with powerhouse China in the semifinals on Friday.

Having already beaten Malaysia on Sunday to secure a spot in the semis, Vietnam’s U19 team in Group B played impressively against China’s U21s and only lost the lop-sided encounter 3-4.

The younger Vietnamese squad will compete against Singapore in Friday’s semis for a berth in the final of the third Thanh Nien-sponsored football event.

Vietnam’s U19s were put in the vacant spot left by Iran after the reigning champions withdrew just days before the kick-off last Friday.

Reported by Quang Huy