Head coach Hoang Anh Tuan’s tactical switch does the job for Vietnam
Doha: Head coach Hoang Anh Tuan said a tactical switch in the second half enabled Vietnam to clinch the three points against Malaysia in their AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024™ tie on Saturday.
22/04/2024 09:00:18
The 2-0 success, coupled with Uzbekistan’s 5-0 win over Kuwait later in the day, confirmed Vietnam a top two finish in Group D and a place in the quarter-finals.
Having taken the lead through a superb Khuat Van Khang free-kick in the 39th minute, coach Hoang Anh Tuan opted for his side to play on the counter in the second half.
It worked a treat with their second goal coming from a quick move starting from their own penalty box that ended with Bui Vi Hao being taken down in the box and Vo Hoang Minh Khoa netting from the spot.
“I’m satisfied with the match, the players did a good job,” said coach Hoang Anh Tuan. “They followed the tactics and were very disciplined, this is a very good result for Vietnam.
“It was a difficult match. Malaysia aren’t a weak team. We suffered in the last part of the match. Second half, we played on the counter and it worked.”
Consecutive 2-0 defeats meant group stage elimination for Malaysia for the second successive edition, having advanced to the quarter-final in their debut in 2018.
For the second game running, Malaysia conceded a sloppy penalty and were punished for their mistakes, with head coach Juan Torres Garrido pinning that down to lack of experience.
“Overall it was more or less the match we expected to have,” said Garrido. “We didn’t score from the chances we had and one decision changed everything, we cannot be happy with the result.”
“Mistakes can happen in a game. They are still young players who don’t have a lot of experience but of course it’s not something I like
“Anything I say now will sound like an excuse, the results are what it is and of course we could always have better preparations.”
Vietnam will take on Uzbekistan on Tuesday to decide the Group D winners while Malaysia and Kuwait will square off looking to end their campaign on a high.
Source: AFC
