Lao U-23 coach Mr Michael Weiss arrives in Cambodia for the AFF Championship.

Lao U-23 squad withdraws from third place playoff at AFF Championship

The Lao football team has withdrawn from the playoff match to decide the third and fourth places in the AFF Under-23 Championship, with the match scheduled to take place at the Morodok Techo National Sports Complex in Cambodia on Saturday.
The team withdrew after 13 players tested positive for Covid-19, while six players had picked up injuries in previous matches of the tournament last week.
Laos had been due to face Timor Leste in the playoff, but Timor-Leste won by a walkover following Laos’ withdrawal.
Head coach Mr Michael Weiss thanked Lao fans for their support for the team during the tournament, saying he and the squad were hugely disappointed not to be able to compete for the chance to win third place.
Next month, Lao footballers will again face two sides from other countries in friendly matches scheduled to take place in Vientiane, and Mr Weiss called on Lao supporters to turn out to cheer on the players.
In the semi-finals of the AFF Championship on Friday, Laos lost 0-2 to Thailand, while Vietnam beat Timor Leste 5-3 in a penalty shootout after the score stood at 0-0 at full time.
Mr Weiss will again lead the Lao football team competing at the 31st South-East Asia (SEA) Games to be held in Hanoi, Vietnam, in May.

ByTimes Reporters
(Latest Update February 28, 2022)