Kicking and pushing the penalty to bring the home team to the final

Steel wall of Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism

The Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism entered the semi-finals of the 3rd Vietnam Youth Student Football Tournament - 2025 THACO Cup in a context where they were considered to be superior to their opponent, Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry. Coach Nguyen Cong Thanh and his team have been undefeated since the beginning of the tournament, keeping a clean sheet in 3 out of 4 matches and possessing a squad of well-trained players.

However, in the semi-final match taking place at 3:30 p.m. today (March 14), it was Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry that left a stronger impression.

- Ảnh 1. — Goalkeeper Thatsaphone Xaiyasone plays impressively

The southern representative defended tightly in the first half, then launched a series of attacks to dominate the game in the second half. The most explosive performance since the beginning of the tournament by Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry surprised Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Coach Nguyen Cong Thanh himself admitted that the opponent played well, coordinated well, and played quickly and skillfully.

However, the best version of Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry in the end could not defeat the weaker version of Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Because the northern representative also had a solid wall in the goal named Thatsaphone Xaiyasone.

The Laotian boy, a senior at Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism, played impressively. Instead of playing a quiet role like in previous matches, Thatsaphone Xaiyasone stepped into the spotlight to become the main character in his team's victory.

In the penalty shootout, Thatsaphone Xaiyasone successfully took the fourth kick thanks to a cool shot. After successfully kicking, the Lao goalkeeper looked up at the stands with an arrogant look. Perhaps it was Thatsaphone Xaiyasone's confidence that created psychological weight, so that in the situation the next day, the goalkeeper of Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism dived as fast as lightning, blocking the opponent's penalty.

This was also the decisive save, bringing Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism into the final.

- Ảnh 2. — Thatsaphone Xaiyasone's decisive save helped the University of Culture, Sports and Tourism win on penalties.

The best goalkeeper in the tournament

Stories of goalkeepers successfully saving a penalty are not rare in football. But to be able to save a penalty like Thatsaphone Xaiyasone, who successfully took an 11m kick and then blocked his opponent's penalty, is clearly an inspiring story.

Coach Nguyen Cong Thanh confirmed that it was a tactic that Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism had prepared. "I had prepared carefully for the penalty shootout scenario. In the qualifying round, we won against Thuy Loi University on penalties, but remember that Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism missed both of their first two kicks," Mr. Thanh recalled.

"That was very strange, because both of you played very well in the match, but in the penalty shootout, you both shot over the crossbar. Therefore, the team prepared more carefully. Goalkeeper Thatsaphone Xaiyasone has taken penalties before. We knew that, so we put your name in the penalty shootout."

- Ảnh 3. — The solid wall of Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism

The key to Thatsaphone Xaiyasone's strength lies in his temperament. The Lao goalkeeper is calm and cool. He completely controls the penalty area, enters and exits appropriately and commands the defense to play firmly.

Thatsaphone Xaiyasone did not have many saves, but in return, he chose a very good position to make every situation easy and simple. At the same time, with good height and long arms, the goalkeeper of Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism became an "undefeated fortress" in aerial disputes.

Coach Nguyen Cong Thanh also highly appreciated Thatsaphone Xaiyasone when he affirmed: "In this year's tournament, goalkeeper Thatsaphone Xaiyasone made a great contribution in defense. It is true that the defenders played well, but the Lao goalkeeper himself also had many important saves. He is very steady and up to now deserves to be the best goalkeeper of the tournament."