Vietnam Olympic team lost heavily to Iran

After the first round of matches, Vietnam Olympic temporarily ranked first in Group B with 3 points, followed by Iran Olympic and Saudi Arabia Olympic (both with 1 point), while Mongolia Olympic (0 points) ranked last. The match with Iran Olympic is important for Vietnam Olympic because if they get points in this match, coach Hoang Anh Tuan and his team will have a great chance to continue.

Vietnam Olympic team (red shirt) competes with great effort

Facing a stronger opponent, Coach Hoang Anh Tuan made two changes in the attack when two players Nguyen Quoc Viet and Nguyen Thanh Nhan were put on the bench, instead Vo Nguyen Hoang and Bui Vi Hao started. Other familiar names appearing in the starting lineup were still Van Khang, Xuan Tien, Duc Phu, Duc Anh, Hoang Nguyen, Manh Hung and goalkeeper Quan Van Chuan.

Facing a much higher rated opponent, the Vietnamese Olympic team still boldly took the initiative to enter the game with a ball control style that is being synchronized from the national team to the youth teams. However, when facing players with superior strength, speed and technique, implementing this style of play encountered many difficulties. In fact, the developments on the field showed that the West Asian team dominated the game thanks to their speed, power and high mobility. It only took them 5 minutes to open the score when Motahhari received a cross from the left wing, headed into the far corner, leaving goalkeeper Van Chuan helpless.

The early goal more or less affected the spirit of the Vietnamese Olympic players. But the commendable point is that our young players still maintained the team's shape under pressure from the opposing team, and played better and better in the following minutes. However, the efforts of coach Hoang Anh Tuan's players could not make up for the difference in skill level compared to their opponents. The most notable highlight that the Vietnamese Olympic team created in the first half was Bui Vi Hao's breakthrough into the penalty area and a shot on goal. Unfortunately, Vi Hao's powerful shot could not defeat goalkeeper Hosseini.

In the second half, when these changes had not yet taken effect, Vietnam Olympic team conceded the third goal, in a situation where Mamizadeh performed solo before taking a shot outside the penalty area, the ball hit Duc Phu's foot and changed direction into the far corner, raising the score to 3-0 for Iran.

The Vietnamese Olympic players will have to try harder in the final match.

Losing 3 goals and facing a stronger opponent in every aspect, it is difficult for the Vietnamese Olympic team to turn the game around. However, the young students of coach Hoang Anh Tuan still played with perseverance and a spirit of not giving up. Despite great efforts in the remaining minutes, the Vietnamese Olympic team could not get an honorable equalizer. We even conceded a fourth goal in the last minute of extra time, after a close-range header by Barzega.

Losing 0-4, the Vietnamese Olympic team faces many difficulties in competing for a ticket to the round of 16. The important thing to do is to pull yourself together to prepare well for the decisive match against Olympic Saudi Arabia, taking place on September 24. Each match against a big opponent at the continental level brings great benefits to the development of young players.

VINH HAI; photo: VFF

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