As the host, U14 Hoang Anh Gia Lai has prepared carefully for the tournament, both tactically and physically. Thanks to that, they entered the game confidently when facing U14 Jubilo Iwata in the match taking place on the evening of May 11 at Pleiku stadium.
Jubilo Iwata is a team with a tradition in youth training. This team once went to Gia Lai to participate in the Vietnam - Japan Youth Football Festival in 2023 and ranked as runner-up. They also set quite high goals in this year's tournament.
However, throughout the match, the young Japanese team did not show much. They were not superior in terms of physical strength and technique compared to the home team. On the side of U14 Hoang Anh Gia Lai, the team played solidly but did not create many breakthroughs.
For most of the first half, both teams played deadlocked in attack. The combinations were mainly around the 16m50 area, easily blocked by defenders.
But right at the beginning of the second half, U14 Hoang Anh Gia Lai created a breakthrough. Just 2 minutes after the break, the home team players made the Pleiku stadium stands burst into tears when celebrating the opening goal. Thanh Nam had a personal breakthrough and then finished into the roof of the Japanese goalkeeper's net, scoring a goal to help the home team lead 1-0.
After being led, U14 Jubilo Iwata began to rise up and play to put pressure on the home team. However, U14 Hoang Anh Gia Lai played very determinedly to preserve the score. On the away team's side, they created many attacks, but the finishing was unsuccessful. In the last minute, U14 Jubilo Iwata had a chance to equalize but headed wide in an open position.
In the end, U14 Hoang Anh Gia Lai won U14 Jubilo Iwata 1-0. This result helped them get the first 3 points and temporarily lead Group A. In the remaining match of the group, U14 Mohyeon FC (Korea) and Truong Tuoi Dong Nai drew 0-0.
On the morning of May 12, U14 Hoang Anh Gia Lai will have their second match against Mohyeon FC. After that, they will finish the group stage with a match against U14 Truong Tuoi Dong Nai the next day.
