U22 Vietnam ended the group stage of the 33rd SEA Games men's football tournament with a perfect record, thereby showing stability in the playing style under the leadership of coach Kim Sang-sik.
"The Golden Star Warriors" defeated U22 Laos with a score of 2-1 and defeated U22 Malaysia 2-0 to win the top spot in Group B.
This result helped U22 Vietnam qualify for the semi-finals, facing U22 Philippines - the second-placed team in Group A. Compared to host U22 Thailand, U22 Philippines is considered a lighter challenge for Khuat Van Khang and his teammates.
However, the U22 Vietnam coaching staff is still cautious and does not allow the players to be subjective before this important match.
In recent training sessions, players have practiced with higher intensity, focusing on fast pass coordination and competition in tight spaces. These are important contents to improve ball control and initiative in playing style when entering the knockout round.
Assessing the upcoming opponent, coach Kim Sang-sik said that the coaching staff will conduct a thorough analysis of the U22 Philippines to have the best preparation. He also noted that having their opponents play earlier will give them an advantage in terms of recovery time.
The goal of U22 Vietnam is to qualify for the final, thereby having the opportunity to return to Rajamangala Stadium - where Vietnamese football was crowned at the ASEAN Cup earlier this year.
The 33rd SEA Games semi-final match between U22 Vietnam and U22 Philippines will take place at 3:30 p.m. on December 15.
