A day of great victory for Vietnamese football.

Yesterday afternoon (December 11th), the Vietnam U23 team and the Vietnam women's team both secured resounding victories in their final matches to advance to the semi-finals of the SEA Games 33, thus further asserting their strength in the Southeast Asian arena.

K ASSERTS ITS EXCEPTIONAL CAPABILITIES

Unlike the relatively smooth group stage in the last three SEA Games, the Vietnamese men's and women's football teams faced a real challenge at this year's tournament. The U23 Vietnam team needed at least one point against U23 Malaysia to secure a place in the semi-finals. Meanwhile, the women's team had to defeat Myanmar to guarantee their progression and have a chance to defend their title. The schedule, or perhaps a twist of fate in football, brought about a strange coincidence: the U23 Vietnam team and the women's team played their crucial matches on the same day and at the same time.

Top spot!

Photo: VFF

Top spot!

Photo: VFF

Either both teams win to affirm the position of Vietnamese football, or Vietnamese football will witness a forgettable low point, with no representatives left after the group stage. Fans are anxious, worried, and feel as if they themselves are being put to the ultimate test. But in this difficult moment, fans also suddenly realize that Vietnamese football is no longer afraid of psychological obstacles in a do-or-die match.

Photo: VFF

Photo: VFF

Since their miraculous run in Changzhou (winning the runner-up title at the 2018 U23 Asian Championship), the Vietnamese U23 team has risen to near-Asian standards. This maturity has been passed down through generations, and the current generation of players under coach Kim Sang-sik is considered well-rounded in terms of physique, technical skills, and mental fortitude. The Vietnamese women's national team has gone even further, reaching the top 5 at the 2022 Asian Cup and qualifying for the 2023 World Cup. For coach Mai Duc Chung and his team, the challenge in Southeast Asia is just a minor hurdle that Huynh Nhu and her teammates can overcome if they play to their full potential.

Once gold is produced, it fears no fire. The difficult situation became a springboard for both elite representatives of Vietnamese football to demonstrate their status as the "big brother" and "big sister" of Southeast Asia. The Vietnam U23 team defeated Malaysia U23, while the Vietnamese women's team beat Myanmar with the same 2-0 scoreline, both employing a similar strategy of launching an early offensive to take a quick lead in the first half, before maintaining a safe and secure position to preserve the victory.

Vietnam U23 advances to the semi-finals.

Unlike their usual slow start in previous matches, the Vietnam U23 team launched an all-out attack to overwhelm Malaysia U23 right after the opening whistle. Coach Kim Sang-sik kept his promise, leading his players to win, even though a single point would have been enough for the team to advance to the semi-finals. Previously, the Vietnam U23 team struggled to score goals due to their scattered attacks, lacking a specific target for pressure. However, in yesterday's final group stage match against Malaysia U23, Coach Kim identified the left wing as the main attacking spearhead. With Phi Hoang, Van Khang, Quoc Cuong, Dinh Bac, and Le Viktor all surrounding the left flank, the Vietnam U23 team breached Malaysia U23's defense through both individual breakthroughs and team coordination.

Vietnam U.23 team defeated Malaysia U.23, securing their place in the semi-finals.

PHOTO: NHAT THINH

The goals by Hieu Minh (header after a cross from Dinh Bac) and Minh Phuc (close-range finish) were the result of a relentless, highly accurate attacking display. Coach Kim Sang-sik proved that the Vietnam U23 team doesn't need perfectly executed passing sequences, but simply needs to be more decisive when approaching the opponent's penalty area to score. His players controlled the tempo well thanks to their transitional passes and well-coordinated wing play. Simultaneously, with a well-organized formation, the Vietnam U23 team also launched sharp counter-attacks. Long passes from their own half by Ly Duc and Hieu Minh became a fresh attacking element, allowing the Vietnam U23 team to transition from defense to attack the Malaysia U23 goal with just one or two passes. If Dinh Bac or Le Viktor had been more clinical, the Malaysia U23 team would have collapsed within the first 45 minutes.

Coach Mai Duc Chung

Coach Kim Sang-sik

Cornered, the Malaysian U23 team launched an all-out attack. Coach Nafuzi Zain deployed all his available players to try and turn the tide. Meanwhile, the Vietnamese U23 team didn't defend deep, but instead pressed to prevent their opponents from building up play in their own half, forcing them to play wide or cross the ball to create opportunities. Simultaneously, the pressure from Dinh Bac and Van Khang in the Vietnamese U23 attack prevented the Malaysian U23 team from deploying their entire formation, forcing them to keep half their defense in their own half. This resulted in inconsistent spacing between the lines of the "Malaysian Tigers." Coach Kim's players carefully studied the Malaysian young players' tactics to maintain their composure. In the second half, Ly Duc and his teammates only allowed the opponent to have one shot on target. The optimal version of the Vietnamese U23 team returned at the right time. With their all-around offensive and defensive capabilities and flexible adaptation to each opponent, Coach Kim Sang-sik's team was ready to reclaim the throne. Vietnam U23's next challenge is the Philippines U23 team (playing at 3:30 PM on December 15th).

VIETNAMESE WOMEN'S TEAM RETURNS TO THE RAILS

The Vietnamese women's team made things difficult for themselves by losing 1-0 to the Philippines in the previous match due to a goal conceded in the fourth minute of added time. However, it was a regrettable loss for Coach Mai Duc Chung's team, as the Vietnamese women controlled the game, created many opportunities, but conceded a goal due to what was almost the only mistake in the match.

When the Vietnamese women's team rediscovers its form, Myanmar (a team that has lost to Vietnam in many previous SEA Games) is no match. The "Diamond Girls" attack with speed and effectively exploit the flanks. Similar to the victory of the U23 Vietnamese team, the Vietnamese women's team scored as expected, after completely dominating the game, demonstrating both a solid playing style and tactical approach, as well as dynamic personnel.

The Vietnamese women's team has overcome a very narrow hurdle to reach the semi-finals.

PHOTO: KHA HOA

Ahead of the 33rd SEA Games, the Vietnamese women's national team faced pressure from familiar issues: an outdated coaching staff, a depleted squad, and a shortage of successors. However, Coach Mai Duc Chung's players proved that even in "old bottles," "new wine" can still be excellent if the "mixer" knows how to adapt the formula. Coach Chung changed the training program over the past three months, emphasizing physical fitness and speed exercises, requiring his players to move the ball quickly and accurately. The Vietnamese women's team is undergoing a comprehensive selection process, and anyone who cannot keep up will be eliminated.

Thanks to intense training and immense pressure, the Vietnamese women's team has transformed itself, becoming more innovative every day. Thanh Nha and her teammates played an attacking game on equal terms with the Philippines, an opponent that the Vietnamese women's team had previously struggled against due to the difference in physical strength. And then, the Vietnamese women's team also dominated Myanmar, in a match where we faced more psychological pressure. With first place in Group B and a relatively weaker opponent in Indonesia in the semi-finals (played at 4 PM on December 14th), the Vietnamese women's team has a strong chance of defending their Southeast Asian title.

The Prime Minister congratulates the two Vietnamese national football teams .

Immediately after yesterday's two matches, the President of the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF), Tran Quoc Tuan, conveyed the congratulations of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to the two Vietnamese national football teams for their two important victories. The Prime Minister also congratulated both teams for giving their all for the national flag and for the country. The Prime Minister acknowledged the willpower, courage, and determination of both teams, and encouraged coaches Mai Duc Chung and Kim Sang-sik to prepare well for the semi-finals.

The VFF also decided to reward the two teams with a total of 1.3 billion VND, with the women's team receiving 700 million VND and the Vietnam U.23 team receiving 600 million VND.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/ngay-dai-thang-cua-bong-da-viet-nam-185251211231355484.htm