Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism: Wins every penalty shootout, thanks to this special character

On the afternoon of March 28, Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism entered a semi-final match that was predicted to be very difficult against Life University (Cambodia), at the 2025 International Youth Student Football Tournament - THACO Cup.

Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism is the team that has "worked hard" the most in this year's tournament with 12 matches from the qualifying round until now. The dense competition schedule, along with only using a fixed lineup, has caused coach Nguyen Cong Thanh's students to lose their physical strength.

Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism faces difficulties before Life University

PHOTO: INDEPENDENCE

In the match against Life University at 3:30 p.m. today, physical strength became an obstacle for Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The Vietnamese representative had to defend to withstand the pressure, with the defense forming a "dam" to prevent the opponent from passing the ball. Unlike most previous matches, Ngan Nhu Dung and his teammates could only counterattack to exploit the opponent's weaknesses.

The Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism football team fought hard throughout the match to keep the score 0-0, leading to a penalty shootout. This was the third time in this year's tournament (including the Vietnamese Youth Student Football and International Youth Student Football tournaments) that the representative of Thanh Hoa entered a penalty shootout. Coincidentally, in all three matches, the score in regular time was 0-0.

People often say... third time is a charm. Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism has won the previous two penalty shootouts (when facing the University of Water Resources and Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry) and it is not easy to repeat the victory, in the context of Cambodia's Life University being very stubborn.

However, once again, the solid wall named Thatsaphone Xaiyasone spoke up at the right time. The Lao goalkeeper dived quickly to block the dangerous shot to the left corner in the first kick. In the second kick, when the opponent changed the direction of the shot to the right, Thatsaphone Xaiyasone also guessed the direction extremely well to catch the trick.

Hero Thatsaphone Xaiyasone

PHOTO: INDEPENDENCE

Thatsaphone Xaiyasone's two dives were both worth "ten gold", helping Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism win 4-2 on penalties to enter the final.

This is the fourth time in the student playground organized by Thanh Nien Newspaper that Thatsaphone Xaiyasone has successfully blocked the opponent's penalty. The Lao goalkeeper has saved 1 penalty from the University of Water Resources, 1 penalty from the University of Industry in Ho Chi Minh City and 2 important penalties from Life University. All of them came from smart positioning and impressive diving.

"Thatsaphone Xaiyasone has good height and long arms, enough to put psychological pressure on his opponents. He also has the talent to look at his opponents' feet to predict the direction of the shot," coach Nguyen Cong Thanh is proud of his student. "Thatsaphone Xaiyasone has reflexes, judgment skills and footwork. I believe he has the ability to become a professional player."

After all, Thatsaphone Xaiyasone still refused to talk about himself. He let his performance on the field become the most "iron" answer about the bravery of this goalkeeper, as well as the team of Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/truong-dh-vh-tt-dl-thanh-hoa-cu-da-luan-luu-la-thang-nho-nhan-vat-dac-biet-nay-18525032817350994.htm