Xuan Son immediately set Singapore’s net on fire without having to rush back to defend

Singapore focuses on exploiting high balls

The goals of Nguyen Tien Linh and Nguyen Xuan Son were definitely the most notable highlights in the Vietnamese team’s 2-0 victory over Singapore at Jalan Besar on the evening of December 26. The goals and the difference in attacking ability of the Vietnamese team appeared from the moment striker Nguyen Tien Linh was on the field, partnering with Nguyen Xuan Son.

However, those are not the only highlights. In addition to the attack, the defense of the Vietnamese team also changed greatly in the second half of the match: midfielder Do Duy Manh replaced midfielder Bui Tien Dung. Duy Manh played right centre-back, while the player in the right centre-back position in the first half, Pham Xuan Manh, switched to left centre-back. Ho Tan Tai replaced Truong Tien Anh to play as right-back, while Nguyen Van Vi replaced Khuat Van Khang to play as left-back.

These changes are first of all intended to increase the defense ability on both sides of the Vietnamese team, especially the defense ability on the left wing, where Khuat Van Khang is naturally an attacking midfielder and is not good at taking on this responsibility. defense service. As for Xuan Manh, when this player plays left centre-back, he can move out to the left wing, providing defensive support on the border for Van Vi when needed. Second, the changes in the defense also help the Vietnamese team increase their ability to fight high balls.

In terms of body shape, Ho Tan Tai (1.80 m) has a clear advantage over Truong Tien Anh (1.68 m). Do Duy Manh (1.80 m) is also taller than Bui Tien Dung (1.76 m). Therefore, although Bui Tien Dung played quite well in the first half and had good tackling techniques, coach Kim Sang-sik still needed another central defender with better physique and focused on fighting the ball against Singapore in the first half. 2.

The defense was adjusted, Nguyen Xuan Son was released from the task of… supporting the defense

The Lion Island football team tried to take advantage of fixed situations (corners, throw-ins) to threaten the Vietnamese team’s goal. When Singapore receives this type of free kick, all of their defenders include Ryhan Stewart (1.84 m), Amirul Adli (1.81 m), Lionel Tan (1.84 m) and Safuwan Baharudin (1.84 m). 83 m) simultaneously appeared in the penalty area of ​​the Vietnamese team. They tried to take advantage of their physical strength in aerial combat, putting pressure on coach Kim Sang-sik’s team.

In the first half, strangely enough, the person who cleared the ball the most for the Vietnamese team when Singapore bounced the ball high into our penalty area was… striker Nguyen Xuan Son. This striker was forced to retreat to support the defense during set-piece plays, because he was one of the few players with good physical shape on the Vietnamese team in the first half (Xuan Son is 1.86 m tall).

Xuan Son provided effective defense support, but this also unintentionally eroded the physical strength of this naturalized striker, and also caused him to lose focus when returning to the attack. The evidence is that there were a few situations where Xuan Son failed to control the ball, or unfortunately missed a shot in the first half of the match, even though he was in a favorable position.

It was not until coach Kim Sang-sik adjusted the defense, enhancing the defenders’ own ability to fight high balls, so Xuan Son had to retreat less to support the defense, that this player was freed from pressure. helping him be more effective in the second half. Therefore, the role of a safe, well-contested defense is just as important as the scoring role of the attack in the semi-final first leg at Jalan Besar.