Coach Kim Sang-sik decided to let the Vietnam team make an internal friendly match with U22 Vietnam, when VFF had difficulty finding a friendly opponent.
The match was held secretly to keep information confidential. The coaching staff divided it into 3 sets of 30 minutes each to ensure professional requirements. In the first half, Mr. Kim used both Nguyen Filip - Cao Pendant Quang Vinh as well as Hoang Duc, Hai Long and Tien Linh.
Meanwhile, U22 Vietnam brought on a series of young stars such as Nhat Minh, Phi Hoang, Van Truong, Thai Son, Viktor Le and Quoc Viet. Notably, striker Le Van Thuan opened the score for U22 Vietnam in the first half. The player born in 2006 showed incredible confidence with many impressive dribbles.
In the second half, some adjustments from coach Kim Sang-sik appeared and the Vietnamese team played better. Goals from Nguyen Hai Long and Chau Ngoc Quang helped the Vietnamese team win 2-1. In general, this was a tough match for the Vietnam team.
But we also need to sympathize with Nguyen Filip and his teammates. Among the main players, Thanh Chung and Tien Linh have just recovered from injuries, while some other players such as Cao Pendant Quang Vinh, Nguyen Van Vi, Nguyen Hai Long, and Do Duy Manh have to play at a very high intensity. In addition to the frustrating weather in Hanoi, the Vietnamese team did not play to their full potential.
On the contrary, the U22 Vietnam squad consists of many players who regularly play in the V.League, and have a desire to prove themselves. Some early examples of courage include Viktor Le, Le Van Thuan and Nguyen Van Truong.
However, U22 Vietnam is still weak in defense and accepts defeat in specific situations. The Vietnamese team still knows how to handle situations even though the goals still come from the midfield.
A day earlier, Vietnam's opponent in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, Malaysia, lost 0-3 to Cape Verde. This disappointed coach Peter Cklamovski and worried about the home team's performance.
