Hanoi: Ending with joy, the Vietnamese media team emerged victorious in a tense penalty shootout against the Thai media team during the “Press Cup Celebrating 100 Years of Vietnamese Media.” This friendly football match, known as the “Vietnam-Thailand Press Super Cup,” was organized to commemorate the centenary of the Vietnam Revolution newspaper, marking a significant milestone in Vietnamese media history.

According to Thai News Agency, the event was jointly presided over by Mr. Lay Quoc Minh, President of the Vietnam Journalists Association, and Mr. Nakorn Veerapravat, President of the Thai Journalists Association. Held at Bac Ninh City Stadium in Hanoi, the match featured a 7-a-side football game between Vietnamese journalists and their Thai counterparts. The Vietnamese team included players from the Army Radio and Television Center, while the Thai team comprised sports reporters, with former Thai national football player Datsakorn Thonglao participating as a VIP player.

The grand opening ceremony saw th
e raising of the FIFA Fair Play flag, followed by the playing of the national anthems of both countries. As the match commenced, the Thai team initially took the lead, but the Vietnamese team quickly responded, finishing the first half ahead with a score of 3-2. The second half saw the Thai team equalizing, resulting in a 3-3 tie that led to a penalty shootout.

The penalty shootout was an exhilarating affair, with the Thai team missing their first three shots while the Vietnamese team scored two, leading 2-0. However, Thai goalkeeper Somkid Chuenta made a remarkable comeback with three consecutive saves, leveling the score at 2-2. Ultimately, the Vietnamese team clinched the victory with a total score of 6-5, securing the championship trophy.

Following the match, a gala dinner was held in Hanoi to celebrate the event, attended by executives, athletes, and organizing committees from both countries. Mr. Lay Quoc Minh emphasized the importance of the event in fostering a strong relationship between Vietnamese
and Thai media, hinting at the possibility of organizing an ASEAN Media Football Tournament in the future.

Mr. Nakorn praised the event’s organization and highlighted the significance of celebrating 100 years of Vietnamese media and 30 years of diplomatic relations between the two nations. The evening concluded with cultural performances and an exchange of souvenirs, symbolizing the camaraderie and friendship between the two media communities.