International Friendly Tournament U22 CFA Team China 2025, Vietnam vs South Korea: 1-1
At 14:30 on March 20, the Vietnam U22 national team played their opening match against the South Korea U22 national team at the International Friendly Tournament U22 CFA Team China 2025, held in Jiangsu, China. Despite drawing 1-1 with the opponents, the Vietnam U22 team still deserved much praise for their performance.
21/03/2025 14:25:55
In the opening match, coach Đinh Hồng Vinh deployed a trio of forwards, notably including the appearance of Vietnamese expatriate Lê Viktor alongside Thanh Nhàn and Quốc Việt. Captain Văn Trường, Xuân Bắc, and Phi Hoàng played in midfield, while the goalkeeper position was entrusted to Cao Văn Bình, supported by a defensive line consisting of Lê Văn Hà, Hiếu Minh, Nhật Minh, and Hồng Phúc.
With a significant advantage in physical strength, fitness, and technical skills, the South Korea U22 players dominated the first 20 minutes of the match. Against the intense playstyle and pressure from the opponents, the Vietnam U22 players showed resilience, seizing opportunities during a few counterattacks. In the 21st minute, young forward Thanh Nhàn made a beautiful long-range shot, which was saved by the South Korean goalkeeper. However, striker Quốc Việt was quick to react and attempted to tap the ball into the net, but unfortunately, the goal was disallowed by the referee.
In the 25th minute, Thanh Nhàn took another impressive long-range shot, but once again, it was kept out by South Korean goalkeeper Lim Junsub.
The Vietnam U22 players continued to play confidently, controlling possession and balancing the game. They also launched a few more counterattacks towards the end of the first half, but no goals were scored. The first half ended in a goalless draw.
In the second half, in the 52nd minute, after a well-coordinated counterattack, Thanh Nhàn finally broke the deadlock, scoring a low and precise shot from inside the box to give Vietnam U22 a 1-0 lead.
In the 75th minute, Coach Đinh Hồng Vinh decided to give Quang Vinh and Văn Cường a chance by substituting them in for Xuân Bắc and Văn Hà. With the fresh legs, the Vietnam U22 team continued to maintain a balanced game. Unfortunately, despite the efforts of Thanh Nhàn and his teammates, they couldn’t prevent South Korea U22 from equalizing with a 1-1 goal in the final moments of the match. This score remained the final result of the game.
Commenting on the result of the match, Coach Đinh Hồng Vinh said: “Today’s match was an important test for the Vietnam U22 team. Regardless of the outcome, the key takeaway is that we had the opportunity to compete against a high-quality opponent, from which we can learn valuable lessons. The entire team played with a positive spirit, followed the tactics set, but there are still areas that need improvement as we aim for long-term goals.”
“I highly appreciate the efforts of the players. They showed strong cohesion, adhered to the tactics, and were not afraid to challenge a strong opponent. Of course, there are still shortcomings, especially in controlling the pace of the game and handling decisive situations. We will continue to analyze and help the players improve further,” Coach Đinh Hồng Vinh commented on his team.
Further discussing the preparations for the upcoming match against U22 Uzbekistan, Coach Đinh Hồng Vinh shared that Uzbekistan is a physically strong, fit team with a disciplined playing style. In preparation for this match, the coaching staff and players will focus on physical recovery, adjusting tactics accordingly, and preparing mentally to perform at their best. “This will be a difficult match, but it is also an opportunity for Vietnam U22 to continue asserting themselves and testing new tactical options,” Coach Đinh Hồng Vinh added.
On March 23, Vietnam U22 will face Uzbekistan U22 in their second match at the International Friendly Tournament U22 CFA Team China 2025.
