U22 Vietnam started their SEA Games 33 campaign smoothly with a 2-1 victory over U22 Laos
The U22 Vietnam team secured all 3 points in their opening match of Group B at the 33rd SEA Games football event, with a 2-1 victory over U22 Laos thanks to a brace from forward Nguyễn Đình Bắc. Despite facing a dense defensive system from their opponents, Coach Kim Sang-sik’s players managed to make a difference and kick off their journey in Bangkok with an important win.
05/12/2025 11:12:53
Right from the early minutes, U22 Laos dropped deep and played with a low defensive line to minimize the passing space for U22 Vietnam. Coach Ha Hyeok-jun’s proactive defensive strategy made it difficult for Vietnam’s central attacking lines. Although U22 Vietnam controlled the game completely, they lacked sharp finishing touches to break through the opponent’s penalty area.
The situation was finally resolved in the 31st minute. From an effortful run on the right wing, Minh Phúc delivered a precise cross, allowing Đình Bắc to burst into the box and finish close to goal, opening the score for U22 Vietnam at 1-0.
For most of the first half, goalkeeper Trần Trung Kiên hardly had to make any saves because U22 Laos rarely approached the 16.50-meter area. However, in one rare moment at 45+1 minutes, the Vietnamese defense was caught off guard. From a corner kick, the ball hit Nhật Minh’s foot, ricocheted off the crossbar, and then rebounded perfectly to Khampane, allowing this player to easily tap in and equalize at 1-1 for U22 Laos.
In the second half, U22 Vietnam continued to dominate and increased their attacking tempo. However, their indecisiveness in the final moments kept them from scoring additional goals. The turning point came at the 61st minute when Đình Bắc fired a shot into the net. Initially, the assistant referee raised his flag for offside, but after a consultation, the main referee awarded the goal, giving Vietnam a 2-1 lead.
Holding the lead, U22 Vietnam created more scoring opportunities as U22 Laos was forced to push forward. However, their attempts to increase the score remained imprecise. At the end of the match, coach Kim Sang-sik’s team secured a 2-1 victory, achieving their goal of three points in the opening game of SEA Games 33.
This win gives U22 Vietnam a favorable start, boosting their confidence for the next match against U22 Malaysia on December 11.
