The courage of the young army

The recent defeat against U23 Indonesia at the 32nd SEA Games provided U23 Vietnam with many lessons, most notably the ability to stay focused and stand firm in difficult moments, in matches where a single mistake could lead to the collapse of all previous efforts.

In the final match at Rayong Provincial Stadium, the Indonesian U23 team proved why they convincingly defeated the host nation, Thailand U23, in the semi-finals. The young Indonesian team possesses all the qualities to win the championship, from their diverse and fast-paced attacking style thanks to their agile and skillful forwards, to the experience of coach Shin Tae-yong and many players who had just won the SEA Games 32 title convincingly.

Vietnam U23 surpasses Indonesia U23.

With their aggressive pressing tactics to win possession and launch quick attacks, U.23 Indonesia consistently dominated U.23 Vietnam, having more attacking and shooting opportunities, and sending more balls into goalkeeper Van Chuan's penalty area.

However, the current Vietnam U23 team is different from the one that played in the SEA Games 32: Coach Hoang Anh Tuan's team always maintains good control of the situation, whether they have possession of the ball or not. In other words, while Indonesia U23 controls the ball, Vietnam U23 is the team that truly controls the game and dominates the space on the field.

Playing with composure, maintaining good team positioning, and effectively withstanding pressure, the Vietnam U23 team not only repelled the opponent's pressure but also launched high-quality counter-attacks whenever they regained possession. In the second half, there were at least four instances where the Vietnam U23 team combined well, needing only four to five touches to create a dangerous shot. If Minh Quang, Quoc Viet, or Xuan Tien had capitalized better, goalkeeper Ernando's net would have been breached.

Vietnam U23 overcomes many difficult hurdles in the final.

Unlike the match against U23 Malaysia, where U23 Vietnam dominated the game with overwhelming ball control, the fact that they didn't have superior possession but still managed to execute a truly coherent game in the final against U23 Indonesia represents a significant step forward in both tactics and mental fortitude for the young team coached by Mr. Hoang Anh Tuan.

Vietnam U23 neutralized Indonesia U23's powerful throw-ins, thanks to goalkeeper Van Chuan and the defenders' focused performance. Besides defending well against aerial balls, Duy Cuong and his teammates also positioned themselves effectively and provided cover to thwart Indonesia U23's quick passing game through the middle.

Thorough research into their opponents to find ways to counter them demonstrates the serious preparation of the Vietnam U23 team throughout the tournament, from the beginning to the final match. Despite participating with a young squad, featuring many unfamiliar faces such as Minh Khoa, Bá Đạt, Long Vũ, Minh Quang, etc., the Vietnam U23 team put in their best effort in every game.

Van Chuan played excellently.

The players have a springboard to maturity.

Coach Hoang Anh Tuan has completed his mission.

Their maturity in competitive spirit was also demonstrated by their unwavering determination, remaining steadfast even when their penalty kicks were blocked by the opponent during regular time. Proof of this was that in the penalty shootout, all six U23 Vietnam players successfully converted their penalties.

Goalkeeper Van Chuan, who failed to save any penalties in the 2023 Doha Cup when Vietnam U23 lost to Kyrgyzstan U23, has now become a hero with a perfectly placed save in the sixth penalty shootout. The 120 minutes at Rayong Provincial Stadium also showcased Van Chuan's best performance. Wearing the captain's armband, the Hanoi FC goalkeeper played with great focus, making numerous excellent saves before once again shining in the decisive penalty spot.

Van Chuan's return after his setbacks exemplifies the spirit of the U23 Vietnam team led by coach Hoang Anh Tuan. It's a team that, despite its shortcomings, constantly strives for improvement. That team deserves the Southeast Asian U23 Championship title.

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/u23-viet-nam-ban-linh-cua-doan-quan-tre-185230826233931556.htm