Vietnam U.23 team opened the U.23 Southeast Asian tournament with a victory over Laos U.23
Photo: Dong Nguyen Khang
U.23 Vietnam secures top spot in Group B
Khuat Van Khang opened the scoring with a decisive shot in the 19th minute, helping the U.23 Vietnam team open a 3-0 victory over the U.23 Laos team in the opening match (center back Hieu Minh scored a double), thereby taking the top spot in Group B with 3 points, compared to 1 point for U.23 Laos and U.23 Cambodia.
This result will help coach Kim Sang-sik and his team confidently aim for the next goal of 3 more points against U.23 Cambodia in the match that will take place at 8:00 p.m. on July 22.
In fact, Mr. Kim's biggest concern will not be the score but the personnel testing options. The important thing is that another victory will open up and very likely close the most favorable scenario for us in the semi-finals of the U.23 Southeast Asian tournament.
U.23 Vietnam beat U.23 Laos, coach Kim Sang-sik cleverly avoided difficult questions
Favorable schedule for semi-finals
Coach Kim Sang-sik will likely avoid meeting U.23 Indonesia or U.23 Thailand early in the semi-finals.
Photo: Dong Nguyen Khang
If the U.23 Vietnam team has its second consecutive victory, the scenario is very likely to happen, meaning that U.23 Cambodia and U.23 Laos will close the group stage with only 1 point after drawing 1-1 in the opening match of Group B.
At that time, the only place for the best second-placed team to enter the semi-finals will not be in group B. According to the semi-final branching method of the Organizing Committee, the U.23 Vietnam team will meet the best second-placed team of group A (U.23 Philippines with 3 points or U.23 Malaysia) or group C (U.23 Myanmar with 3 points or U.23 Thailand).
This means that the U.23 Vietnam team will avoid having to meet the top two teams in Group A and C early, most likely the host team U.23 Indonesia and U.23 Thailand.
At that time, the U.23 Vietnam team will focus on meeting the "softest" opponent in theory in the semi-finals, with an appointment to play the final match with one of the two teams U.23 Indonesia and U.23 Thailand who will most likely have to fight each other in the semi-finals.
Highlight U.23 Vietnam 3-0 U.23 Laos: A smooth start for coach Kim Sang-sik and his team
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Source: https://thanhnien.vn/lich-thi-dau-u23-viet-nam-u23-campuchia-tranh-duoc-thai-lan-indonesia-o-ban-ket-185250719190143577.htm
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