Vietnam has the opportunity to win the ASEAN Cup for the third time.

On the evening of December 29th, the Vietnamese national team defeated Singapore 3-1 in the second leg of the ASEAN Cup semi-final at Viet Tri Stadium, securing their place in the final with a 5-1 aggregate victory. The Vietnamese team now has the opportunity to win the ASEAN Cup for the third time in history.

The Vietnamese team secured a place in the final after a 5-1 aggregate victory over Singapore - Photo: HOANG TUNG

With a 2-0 advantage from the first leg, coach Kim Sang Sik opted for a safe choice with a balanced lineup between attack and defense. Midfielder Doan Ngoc Tan returned to the starting lineup to partner Hoang Duc in midfield. Ngoc Tan's powerful, sweeping style of play provides a muscular addition to the somewhat more delicate Hoang Duc. Up front, Xuan Son continued to play as the central striker, supported by Ngoc Quang (left) and Hai Long (right). This is a fresh combination that has generated much anticipation among the fans.

The victory of individual style

The players on the field perfectly suited coach Kim Sang Sik's intention of playing a slow, steady game. Despite trying to play calmly and leisurely, the Vietnamese team didn't give the impression of complete control of the match. The "Golden Star Warriors" relied too much on long balls and failed to create any breakthroughs. Conversely, the Vietnamese defenders continued to worry fans with many instances of lack of concentration in their ball handling. One such situation resulted in a goal being disallowed. In the 11th minute, Faris Ramli put the ball into goalkeeper Dinh Trieu's net, but it was ruled offside. However, this served as a warning for the Vietnamese team in the following minutes. Despite not playing well, the Vietnamese team once again achieved their goal. In the 38th minute, Xuan Son was fouled by a Singapore defender inside the penalty area. After consulting VAR, the referee awarded Vietnam a penalty. From the penalty spot, Xuan Son easily deceived the Singapore goalkeeper, scoring the opening goal of the match (45+1 minute). In the 63rd minute, the Vietnamese team doubled their lead. (Hoang Duc)   A breakthrough on the right wing followed by a cross into the box resulted in the ball deflecting off a Singapore defender's foot, but Xuan Son was in the right place at the right time to easily score, increasing the lead to 2-0. Both of Vietnam's goals lacked the hallmarks of coordinated plays, leaving fans feeling somewhat unsatisfied. Even Tien Linh's third goal for Vietnam in the 90+2 minute came from a penalty kick.

20,000 fans packed Viet Tri Stadium to support the Vietnamese national team - Photo: NK

The final match is awaited.

After taking a 2-0 lead in the second leg (4-0 on aggregate), the Vietnamese players became somewhat complacent. This allowed the Singaporean players to create numerous dangerous opportunities towards Dinh Trieu's goal and score a consolation goal in the 73rd minute through Kyoga Nakamura. This goal came from a rather unexpected long-range shot, but it must be admitted that the Vietnamese midfielders allowed their opponents too much freedom. Not only did they play carelessly, but the Vietnamese team also lacked composure, with players receiving unnecessary yellow cards in the final minutes of the match. However, the biggest concern for Vietnam wasn't just the yellow cards, but also the injuries to Tan Tai, Van Thanh, and Xuan Manh... Despite leading by a significant margin, the Vietnamese team failed to maintain their full strength. Coach Kim Sang Sik also clearly did not intend to do so. This is a real disadvantage for Vietnam, with two final matches still to come. Nevertheless, reaching the ASEAN Cup final is a result that has pleased Vietnamese fans, thanks to coach Kim Sang Sik and his team. The Vietnamese national team has the opportunity to win the Southeast Asian championship for the third time in history, after previously winning in 2008 and 2018.

The joy of the Vietnamese national team after securing a place in the ASEAN Cup 2024 final - Photo: NK

Coach Kim Sang Sik: "I'm betting my whole career on the ASEAN Cup."

After helping the Vietnamese national team reach the final of the 2024 ASEAN Cup, coach Kim Sang Sik affirmed his determination to win the championship. At the press conference after the Vietnam-Singapore match (3-1) on the evening of December 29th, coach Kim Sang Sik stated: "We are very happy to have reached the final. This achievement comes from the enthusiastic support of the fans. Besides that, it's the tireless efforts and unwavering dedication of every member of the team. The journey is not over; the Vietnamese national team will go further. I'm betting my entire football career on this tournament." The return match against Singapore marked the first time the Vietnamese team scored in the first half. Coach Kim said: "I am very pleased with that. The players were a little nervous going into the match, but in the end they scored. After 6 matches, the team has only conceded 3 goals. That is the result of the players' efforts. The coaching staff will watch the semi-final match between Thailand and the Philippines. We have ideas and plans for the final. The players just need to perform as well as they have in the past, and continue to prepare thoroughly."

Tuoitre.vn

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/viet-nam-truoc-co-hoi-lan-thu-3-vo-dich-asean-cup-20241230073356083.htm