On the evening of December 18, the Vietnamese team drew 1-1 with the Philippines in the group stage of the 2024 ASEAN Cup. Midfielder Doan Ngoc Tan scored in the 90+7 minute of extra time, helping the team retain 1 point on the away field.
This is considered the most difficult match for coach Kim Sang-sik and his team since the beginning of the tournament. Besides the fierce play of the home team Philippines, Rizal's artificial pitch is also a big challenge for Duy Manh and his teammates.
After the match, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) homepage posted a photo of a Vietnamese player's scratched and bleeding knee.
"A familiar image when our players compete on artificial turf. Overcoming everything, the whole team tried until the last minute to win back a precious point."
The disputes and contact with the hard ground make players susceptible to injury. This is something that Vietnamese players also have to face when playing on artificial turf.
After the match, midfielder Doan Ngoc Tan also shared: "The Vietnamese team is really not used to playing on artificial turf. The hardness of the field and the bounce of the ball are very uncomfortable. As you can see, my arms and legs are scratched, it is very difficult to play.
The Philippines' defense is very tall, strong and fierce in the disputes. Therefore, it is not easy for Vietnamese players in one-on-one dispute situations."
The Vietnam team will return home to prepare for the match against Myanmar at Viet Tri Stadium, Phu Tho on December 21.
