Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Phnom Penh: Australia stood firm to claim the AFF Under-16 Championship title on Saturday thanks to a 5-3 defeat of Vietnam in a penalty shootout after the two sides had played out a dramatic 3-3 draw.
Vietnam, who along with Australia will compete at September’s AFC U-16 Championship in India, had raced into a two goal lead thanks to strikes from Nguyen Hanh Sang and Nguyen Tran Viet Cuong, before John Roberts reduced the deficit with a 58th minute penalty.
Khac Khiem duly restored Vietnam’s advantage only to see Australia reply through a Mark Moric effort and Roberts’ last gasp header which forced a penalty shootout.
With Nguyen Xuan Kiem then missing from 12 yards, Bryce Bafford stepped up to convert his attempt and seal the title for Antony Vidmar’s charges.
Photo: ASEAN Football Federation