Messi, Ronaldo and Falcao make 2012 Ballon d'Or shortlist Fifa has named the list of players shortlisted for the prize, with a host of star names battling it out for the crown

http://www.goal.com/en/news/1785/fifa-ballon-dor/2012/10/29/3486885/messi-ronaldo-and-falcao-make-2012-ballon-dor-shortlist

BALLON D'OR NOMINEES

	Sergio Aguero	Manchester City
	Mario Balotelli	Manchester City
	Karim Benzema	Real Madrid
	Gianluigi Buffon	Juventus
	Sergio Busquets	Barcelona
	Iker Casillas	Real Madrid
	Didier Drogba	Shanghai Shenhua
	Radamel Falcao	Atletico Madrid
	Zlatan Ibrahimovic	Paris Saint-Germain
	Andres Iniesta	Barcelona
	Lionel Messi	Barcelona
	Manuel Neuer	Bayern Munich
	Neymar	Santos
	Mesut Ozil	Real Madrid
	Gerard Pique	Barcelona
	Andrea Pirlo	Juventus
	Sergio Ramos	Real Madrid
	Cristiano Ronaldo	Real Madrid
	Wayne Rooney	Manchester United
	Yaya Toure	Manchester City
	Robin van Persie	Manchester United
	Xabi Alonso	Real Madrid
	Xavi Hernandez	Barcelona

Laos ends the tournament without a Win at VFF CUP 2012

In their final match of the 2012 VFF Cup, Laos ended the tournament without a win after falling 2-4 to Turkmenistan.

Thim Xad had hoped to end their campaign on a high note after losing 1-4 to a South Korea University XI and 0-4 to Vietnam.

Turkmenistan controlled the ball early and often, creating several chances in the first 15 minutes. Their efforts were rewarded with Boliyan Aleksandr's goal in the 17th minute, an easy tap-in after the goalkeeper denied an initial effort.

The away side doubled their lead just before the half-hour mark after Laos goalkeeper Soundala Soukthavy failed to catch a corner kick, and despite a solid chance for Laos just minutes later they went into the half training 2-0.

The second half picked up where the first left off, with Turkmenistan once again taking advantage of Soukthavy's poor play, this time on poor coverage of a cross that allowed Abylov Gunvanch to score his team's third goal of the match.

After a failed penalty kick by Phaphouvannin Visay that struck the crossbar, Laos made it 3-1 before at 58 minutes when Lithideth Keoviengpheth beat the offside trap to receive a superb ball from his team-mate and convert.

Each side added one to their tally, but the result was little consolation for the Laotians who will need drastic improvements to their side before the AFF Suzuki Cup kicks off in late November.


http://sg.sports.yahoo.com/news/laos-2-4-turkmenistan-suzuki-cup-participants-end-002000621--spt.html

Army storm to penalty victory at Mayor’s Cup final

The Army football team enjoys their victory at the National Stadium in Vientiane last Friday.

The Army football team took home the Vientiane Mayor’s Cup on Friday after their battle against the Police team ended on penalties.

It was a frustrating game for the Police team, who despite having several shots on target, ended the game on a 1-1 draw. The two teams then went head to head for the penalty shoot-out, which the Army team won 6 goals to 5.

This year’s Vientiane Mayor’s Cup saw nine teams from the Ministry of National Defence,

Ministry of Public Security and Vientiane-Hanoi Friendship College compete for the trophy.

The second, third and fourth place teams get cash prizes and trophies and the overall winner receives a cash prize and the Cup.

Vice Mayor of Vientiane Mr Saithong Keoduangdy said the competition is a good way to encourage young football talent to play competitively, with some players using the competition as a platform to gain entry into the game at national and international level.

Next year, the Army and Police football teams are both set to play in league one of the Lao competition due to their impressive performances. The two teams, along with Naxaithong district football team who came third in the competition, will also compete in the qualifying round of the Prime Minister’s Cup later this year.

The Lao Football Federation will hold the qualifying events, which will be held in Luang Prabang, Savannakhet and Champassak provinces.

The qualifying round of the Prime Minister’s Cup will see Groups A, B and C battle it out to play the event. In the selection round, Phongsaly, Luang Namtha, Oudomxay and Luang Prabang provinces will play first, in Group A.  Matches start on October 26 and finish on October 30.

Group B is made up of the Police team, Naxaithong district, Attapeu province and Champassak province. Finally, the Army team along with Xekong, Borikhamxay and Savannakhet provinces will play in Group C.

Lao Brewery Company provided more than 100 million kip in sponsorship to allow the Vientiane’s Mayor’s Cup to take place, and the company has announced it will also sponsor the Prime Minister’s Cup.

laoff.org

LFF To Host Prime Minister’s Cup Qualifiers

LFF To Host Prime Minister’s Cup Qualifiers

VIENTIANE (28 Oct 2012) – The Laos Football Federation (LFF) are set to host the qualifying round of the Primr Minister’s Cupfrom this week out in three provinces.

The three provinces concerned are Luang Prabang, Savannakhet and Champassak.

Luang Prabang will host Group A with Phongsaly, Luang Namtha, Oudomxay and Luang Prabang battling it out while Group B will have Champassak up against the Police team, Naxaithong district and Attapeu province.

Group C in Savannakhet will see the hosts against the Army team, Xekong and Borikhamxay.

aseanfootball.org

Viet Nam trounce Laos in VFF Cup

Viet Nam trounce Laos in VFF Cup

Rising star: Striker Nguyen Quang Hai heads the ball during the match against Laos. Viet Nam won the game 4-0. — VNS Photo Nguyen Viet

HCM CITY (VNS)— Viet Nam put in a strong performance to brush aside Laos 4-0 in yesterday's Viet Nam Football Federation Cup match. The victory increases the hosts chances of winning the tournament.

Striker Nguyen Quang Hai scored two goals in the first half and Nguyen Trong Hoang and Huynh Quoc Anh each added one in the second to delight the home fans.

The victory gives Viet Nam their first three points and makes the last round on Sunday more interesting as those matches will determine the winners of the competition.

"My players played better today but I am not happy because the defence still left some spaces for the opposition to exploit," Phan Thanh Hung, Viet Nam's head coach, said.

The Laos manager Kokichi Kimura said that his team did not play well and he has a lot of work to do to improve their game.

It was a confident Laos who started the match brighter and had the first chances. However Viet Nam were keen to make amends for their disappointing defeat at the hands of Turkmenistan two days ago, and they quickly found their rhythm.

Hai grabbed the game's opening goal when he beat the offside trap to collect a fine floating pass from Nguyen Vu Phong and stroked the ball into the net. He should have doubled his tally in the 27th minute, but wastefully fired wide. He made no mistake five minutes later, doubling the score from the spot after Lao keeper had pulled Luong down in the penalty area.

Hung made two super substitutions in the second half, with attacker Hoang and winger Anh putting the game beyond doubt.

In the day's other fixtures, South Korea's U23 team trounced Turkmenistan 4-0 to lead the competition with six points from their two games.

A draw against Viet Nam in the last match on Sunday is enough for the South Koreans to lift the trophy. — VNS