Vietnam’s successful experiments
Leading the opponent by 2 goals after the semi-final first leg helps coach Kim Sang-sik have enough conditions to make other calculations in terms of personnel, in the second leg last night (December 29) at Viet Tri Stadium ( Phu Tho), preparing for the final match. First, midfielder Quang Hai was not named in the starting lineup, making room for Doan Ngoc Tan to play alongside central midfielder Hoang Duc.
There were also changes on the two wings of the Vietnamese team, Vu Van Thanh replaced Truong Tien Anh at right wing back, and Pham Xuan Manh replaced Khuat Van Khang (compared to the starting lineup in the match at Jalan Besar in Singapore a few days ago) played left wing back. This is the first time Pham Xuan Manh plays as a left-back at the AFF Cup 2024.
Chau Ngoc Quang (8) was tested as a striker
Another very new experiment is that midfielder Chau Ngoc Quang was pushed to the striker line, playing right behind striker Nguyen Xuan Son. Chau Ngoc Quang played the role of striker in the semi-final second leg.
The player playing for HAGL Club is not playing badly. At least, compared to the person who played closest to Xuan Son in the first leg of the semi-finals, Dinh Thanh Binh, Chau Ngoc Quang handled the ball better, less likely to lose the ball when receiving passes from teammates. In addition, Chau Ngoc Quang has a pretty good connection with his teammates, unlike Dinh Thanh Binh who has almost lost contact with the remaining positions on the field.
Not only that, Chau Ngoc Quang also had a few powerful finishing situations, causing difficulties for the Singapore team’s goal. This player had a header against the Lion Island team at the beginning of the match. It’s just a pity that the goal was not recognized because Chau Ngoc Quang fouled the Singaporean player before jumping up to head the ball. Chau Ngoc Quang and Pham Xuan Manh playing in new positions opens up new personnel options for the Vietnamese team, before the final match.
Prepare the strongest attack for the final match
If the new positions of Chau Ngoc Quang and Pham Xuan Manh are tests, then Tien Linh entering the field earlier than usual could be coach Kim Sang-sik’s preparation for the first leg of the final on January 2. .2025 is here.
Tien Linh entered the field to play with Xuan Son earlier than usual
Instead of only being able to enter the field for the last 20-25 minutes, in the most recent matches against Myanmar and Singapore (semi-final first leg). In last night’s match, Tien Linh entered the field at the beginning of the second half. This is the match in which Tien Linh and Xuan Son have had the longest time playing together, since the beginning of AFF Cup 2024.
The Vietnamese team is especially dangerous every time Xuan Son and Tien Linh are on the field, because these two players are both good at scoring goals and extremely compatible with each other. When Tien Linh and Xuan Son appeared together, the opponent’s defense was significantly scattered, because the opponents were forced to keep an eye on both strikers.
Coach Kim Sang-sik has rarely used them at the same time in recent matches, so this is not the period when the Vietnamese team needs to play “all in”. We still have many options to consider in the group stage matches and semi-finals.
But in the upcoming final, things are different. The opponent in the final match is definitely the strongest opponent we have encountered since the beginning of the tournament, and the final match will be where the Vietnamese team uses all of its skills to compete for the championship. Mr. Kim Sang-sik began preparing for the possibility of using Xuan Son and Tien Linh at the same time for a longer time in the final match.
Playing right behind this pair of strikers will be Quang Hai, the best attacking midfielder in Vietnamese football today. Quang Hai entered the field not long after Tien Linh appeared on the field, creating an attacking trio of Quang Hai – Xuan Son – Tien Linh. The time when Xuan Son, Tien Linh and Quang Hai appeared together in the second half of the semi-final second leg against Singapore at Viet Tri Stadium, was the time when coach Kim Sang-sik was letting the stars attack the line. His head “warmed up” for the finals!
