Vietnam entered the semi-final of AFF Mitsubishi Cup 2022 after beating Myanmar by 3-0 to finish Group B undefeated and conceding no goals.
| Vietnamese players celebrate after scoring the first goal in the match against Myanmar on January 3. Photo: Ngoc Tu/The Hanoi Times |
Receiving the underdog Myanmar at My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi, Vietnam started the match with the strongest squad to assure a win and top spot of Group B.
Right wingback Ho Tan Tai and left wingback Doan Van Hau returned to the squad after being benched in the match against Singapore.
The three center-backs were Do Duy Manh, Nguyen Thanh Chung and Bui Hoang Viet Anh. The midfielders were Nguyen Quang Hai, Do Hung Dung, Nguyen Van Quyet, and the two forwards were Pham Tuan Hai and Nguyen Tien Linh.
Vietnam showed their superiority the whole match. A nice move on the left wing allowed Nguyen Van Quyet to have a low-cross into the box and forced Myanmar’s defender Kyaw Zin Lwin to score an own goal in the eighth minute.
After the goal, Myanmar tried to recover the ball and the tempo of the game. The away team pushed their defensive line up and increase their pressing on Vietnam’s defenders.
Such pressure made Vietnamese center-back Do Duy Manh and goalkeeper Dang Van Lam commit three mistakes but Myanmar failed to capture the moments.
In the 27th minute, left wingback Doan Van Hau had a whipped cross from the left wing. Myanmar’s goalkeeper failed to catch the ball and allowed Vietnamese striker Nguyen Tien Linh to score from just a seven-meter distance.
With a two-goal advantage, Vietnam retreated to their own half and explored several opportunities from their counter-attacks.
In the 72nd minute, midfielder Chau Ngoc Quang who came to replace Nguyen Quang Hai scored a 25-meter rocket and net the third goal for Vietnam.
Vietnam will meet Indonesia at the semi-final round. The first leg will take place in Indonesia on January 6.
Vietnam’s head coach Park Hang-Seo said at the post-match conference that the semi-final matches with Indonesia will be hard as Indonesian players have good physical conditions, good techniques and good tactical knowledge.
Coach Park said that Vietnam will do the best to beat Indonesia at the semi-final round and that Vietnamese players and coaches are not afraid of any threats.
