Japan to the semis: Captain Junya (right) of Japanese student team tries to take a ball during their match against Dong Tam Long An. Japan won 3-0. — Photo bongda.com.vn

HA NOI  (VNS) — Salatiel Santos de Menezes scored the only goal in Bangu Atletico Clube's 1-0 win over Dong Tam Long An in the International Football Tournament-Binh Duong Television Number One Cup yesterday.

It was the last match in the Group B round.

Santos broke the off-side trap before he left Dong Tam Long An's goalkeeper Nguyen Tien Anh behind to shoot into an empty net in the 55th minute.

Earlier, Deivision William Borges of Dong Tam Long An hit Brazilian Bangu Atletico Clube's net but his goal was not recognised because of another off-side trap.

When the V. League side had not yet regrouped to restart the game, keeper A. Teixeira of Bangu Atletico Clube kicked off a rapid attack. With a long and strong pass he gave the ball to Menezes who sprinted up and netted.

With the second win, Bangu Atletico Clube has seven points and tops the group ranking. The team entered the semi-final round. Meanwhile, Dong Tam Long An has been disqualified.

In an earlier match, the Japanese student squad trounced Quang Ninh Coal, another Vietnamese club, 3-0 to take the semi-final berth.

Defender Nguyen Van Viet's own goal was the start of the nightmare for the local team, which suffered two other shocks, as midfielders Kiyotani Kai and Aoyagi Ryota scored in the first half.

Coach Pham Nhu Thuan used all three changes in the second half but failed to overturn the situation.

His team lost all three matches in the tournament.

The Japanese will play the South Korean students in the knock-out stage while Bangu Atletico Clube will meet hosts Becamex Binh Duong tomorrow.

In the Group A activities on Tuesday, Becamex Binh Duong entered the semi-finals thanks to a draw.

The hosts drew with a South Korean student squad 2-2 in the last group match.

Pape Omar Faye and Nguyen Anh Duc scored for the hosts, while Jeong Wonjin and Kim Geonhee levelled the score.

As a result, the Koreans and Sanna Khanh Hoa, who beat Myanmar's Yadanarbon FC 2-1 in another game, had five points each. But the Koreans entered the knockout round as they had the best goal difference.

Meanwhile, the other two teams shared the second position. And Becamex Binh Duong progressed after a lucky draw. — VNS