U19 HAGL Arsenal JMG advanced to the next round thanks to the draw.

Despite a 1-2 defeat against Sydney U21, coach Guillaume Graechen's team still qualified for the semi-finals along with Malaysia U21 thanks to a lucky draw at the International U21 tournament on the afternoon of October 23rd.

The draw was held in the press conference room, immediately after the match at Can Tho Stadium. Three coaches representing their teams chose small round balls containing numbers that would determine their team's ranking in the group. Coach Graechen drew number 2, meaning the HAGL Arsenal JMG Academy team finished second in their group. Meanwhile, the U21 Malaysia coach drew number 1, and the U21 Australia coach received the ball with number 3, resulting in their elimination from the tournament.

It was a very emotional afternoon for the HAGL Arsenal JMG Academy and its fans. Earlier, they had been on edge after their team suffered a 1-2 defeat against U21 Sydney. This result left all three teams in the group tied with three points and a goal difference of 0, as Coach Graechen's team had won 2-1 against U21 Malaysia in the previous match – a team that had achieved the same result against U21 Sydney in their opening game.

Coach Graechen (right) holds up the lucky draw slip. Photo: Duc Dong.

Entering this afternoon's match, HAGL Academy held their fate in their own hands, needing only a draw to advance as group winners. That's why they started cautiously, despite the fervent support of tens of thousands of fans filling almost the entire Can Tho stadium.

Meanwhile, while needing to win at all costs, the Sydney U21 team wasn't in a hurry to attack. They understood the home team's effectiveness in counter-attacks, and they also intended to utilize their physical stamina and height advantage to create opportunities later in the match or in set-piece and aerial situations.

The first half therefore proceeded at a slow pace, with neither team creating many scoring opportunities. The most significant chance created by HAGL Academy was Luong Xuan Truong's free-kick in the 40th minute, which narrowly missed the post. About five minutes earlier, Blackwood broke into the penalty area but his weak shot went straight to goalkeeper Van Tien.

Cong Phuong and his teammates (left) had a difficult match. Photo: Duc Dong.

After the break, the atmosphere became much more lively. HAGL Academy had the first opportunity with Thanh Tung's familiar run down the right wing and shot, but it wasn't good enough to score in the 47th minute. Just a minute later, Sydney U21 opened the scoring when John Scott reacted quickly after a scramble in front of the home team's 5.5-meter box, following a long-range free kick from his teammate.

The lead could have been extended for the Australian team if a player in a blue shirt had successfully finished from close range, after goalkeeper Van Tien's diving save was not fully utilized.

In a critical situation, the brilliance of individuals can bring about a breakthrough. And that happened in the 55th minute, during a game that wasn't particularly impressive for HAGL Academy. Luong Xuan Truong showed sharp vision with a through pass, while Van Toan demonstrated his quick thinking with a run into the penalty area and a finish to equalize the score at 1-1.

His teammates rushed to congratulate Van Toan. Photo: Duc Dong.

One point was enough to advance, so Coach Graechen's players slowed down their pace of play. The French coach even cautiously substituted Van Toan in the 79th minute, replacing him with center-back Dong Trieu to reinforce the defense.

However, HAGL Academy's net was still breached. In the 85th minute, under pressure from the opponent, center-back Ksor Úc headed the ball back without noticing goalkeeper Văn Tiến rushing forward, inadvertently scoring an own goal. This revived U21 Sydney's chances of advancing, while the home team, who had been comfortable, now had to leave their fate to chance. And that luck came during the draw, favoring the number 2 that coach Graechen drew.

According to VnExpress.net