Winning 2-0 against the Philippines U22 team in the men's football semi-final on the afternoon of December 15th, the Vietnam U22 team secured a ticket to the final, moving closer to their goal of winning the gold medal at the 33rd SEA Games.
Still Dinh Bac
The first semi-final match between Vietnam U22 and Philippines U22 was quite exciting. Both teams played with great effort, and for Vietnam U22, striker Nguyen Dinh Bac remained a standout player. Dinh Bac was almost always present at key moments, confidently dribbling and sprinting. He ran tirelessly until the very last minutes of the match.
Coach Kim Sang-sik and the U22 Vietnam players celebrate after defeating U22 Philippines. (Photo: NGOC LINH)
However, the Vietnam U22 team remained unable to find the net until the 89th and 90+2 minutes, when they unexpectedly scored two goals in quick succession, helping the "Golden Star Warriors" overcome the Philippines U22 team and secure a place in the tournament's final.
In the second half, the Vietnam U22 team dominated the attack but still couldn't break through the solid defense of the Philippines U22 team. Just when the audience thought the semi-final match between Vietnam U22 and the Philippines U22 would be decided by extra time after 90 minutes of regulation time, Coach Kim Sang-sik's team unexpectedly scored. A precise header from Van Thuan and a bouncing free kick from Thanh Nhan deflected the ball towards the far post of the Philippines U22 goal.
The match unfolded as the U22 Philippines players capitalized on their physical advantage, playing aggressively and defending from afar. This made it difficult for U22 Vietnam to build up play. However, as the reigning U23 Southeast Asian champions, coach Kim Sang-sik's team used their extensive experience to overwhelm their opponents. As mentioned, in the 89th minute, from an attack down the left wing, largely thanks to Dinh Bac, Phi Hoang delivered a perfect pass, allowing Van Thuan to leap and head the ball into the net, opening the scoring.
While the opposing team was still reeling from the late goal, leading to a foul near the 16.5-meter area, giving Vietnam U22 a direct free kick, Thanh Nhàn, who came on in the second half, took advantage of the opportunity to seal a 2-0 victory, much to the ecstatic joy of coach Kim Sang-sik and his team.
Adjust the finishing touch.
Despite defeating U22 Philippines, U22 Vietnam still showed a lack of effectiveness in their attack. In the semi-final, coach Kim Sang-sik's team, although dominant in attack, missed many clear-cut opportunities, only managing to score two goals in the final minutes of the match.
Set-piece attacking drills have been honed over a long period, since the FIFA Days 2024-2025, and successfully implemented in friendly matches and practice tournaments in China, but the Vietnam U22 team has not been able to apply them proficiently at this year's SEA Games 33.
After three matches, the U22 Vietnam team, despite possessing a core of players with outstanding physical condition, has not been truly effective in aerial duels. Coach Kim Sang-sik's team needs to quickly improve their long-ball play, refine their attacking tactics, and fine-tune their finishing for the upcoming final match.
The final match of the men's football tournament at the 33rd SEA Games will take place at 7:30 PM on December 18th. The Vietnam U22 team is determined to win the gold medal at the 33rd SEA Games. This tournament is also an opportunity for coach Kim Sang-sik and his team to prove they are a top-tier youth team in the region.
Vietnam U22's opponent is Thailand, who beat Malaysia U22 1-0 on the evening of December 15th when their opponents were down to 10 men from the 16th minute.
"The semi-final match on the afternoon of December 15th saw excellent substitutions by coach Kim Sang-sik. Van Thuan and Thanh Nhan were the two players he brought on in the second half and they both scored."
Source: https://nld.com.vn/u22-viet-nam-vao-chung-ket-196251215215624592.htm
Comment (0)