Post by Laoupdate on Feb 8, 2005 0:40:01 GMT -5
A weekend of surprise
Sisay Vilaysack
Last weekend served up one large shocks for the Lao League when defending champion MCTPC was downed by the university side, while the other two favourites had easy victories over their opponents.
University blanks MCTPC
MCTPC head coach Bounlap Khenkittisack couldn't believe his eyes, but the scoreboard told the truth: his defending champions went down 2-0 to the National University squad on Sunday at the National Stadium.
The first goal was an early eye-opener when, in only the 5th minute, Phonesouk Sitthilath slotted the ball home, a shock made worse because the scorer played for MCTPC last season. The second goal to seal MCTPC's fate was scored by captain Valasine Dalaphone in the 65th minute.
"I didn't think before the game that we could lose, because we have never lost to university. We have won the League title three times, while the university side has never even made the top four in the table," said Bounlap.
"The first goal was a big mistake by the goalkeeper, but all my experienced players made far too many mistakes. Next game, I will use only young players from the substitutes bench, including the goalkeeper."
"I can see that the road to defend our title is beginning to look like a dead-end street; it's out of our hands. If we lose the next match, the door to regaining the title will slam shut. From now on I will use only young players, who have been taking a back seat for too long, because I want to give a opportunity for them to play," he said.
"My target is already changed, because it looks like we have lost our title. So I want to prepare the team for next season by looking at the young players, who will become the backbone of the side," he added.
LAC easily defeats newcomer
Last year's runner-up the Lao-American College FC made very easy work of inexperienced newcomer Na Video 6-0 in their Lao League match on Sunday.
The match was more like a warm-up for LAC, as the Na Video team lacked tactics and experience of the big day, not knowing how best to work together in attack and defence.
The U-20 national team member Seng-aloun Souny opened the scoring when the game was only 10 minutes old, though it looked like the teams would be going for the oranges with a measly one-goal difference despite frequent but inaccurate shots from the LAC forwards; but Souksakhone Vongsamany snatched a second goal in first-half injury time.
When the second half opened, so did the slaughter, with a hat-trick from Dao Khotsaiya in the 49th, 56th and 65th minute and one from Somsanouk Lorvanxay in the 61st minute.
The Na Video players are inexperienced, but criticism an be levelled at team management when it seemed they had no substitutes on the bench. Na Video spirits are now very low, as they are propping up the table with no points, having lost five out of five.
Vientiane sinks Road Construction No 8
Now favourites, Vientiane FC have a four-point lead over the two second-placed sides Bank and LAC after defeating Road Construction No 8 2-0 scoring on Sunday at the National University Stadium.
It seemd the match was doomed to be a goalless draw until Vientiane's Kingsadavane scored in the 78th minute and Souvanno Luang-amath topped things off with another two minutes before full time.
In what looks like the old against the new champions, Vientiane will play MCTPC on Sunday at 4pm at the National Stadium.
Other results from Saturday: Army 3 defeated PM's Office 0; Bank 3 beat National Public Security 0.
Source: Vientianetimes.org.la
Photo: www.kanlagnafc.com/J20%20Image%20Web/I01%20117a.jpg
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