"We are going forward but not going in the right direction. U23 Vietnam had a ticket to the semi-finals as the top team, but the feeling of being stuck was not a convincing thing but a concern. If we want to win the championship, the journey must be sharp, coordinated and the way we play must be clearer, commented commentator Hoang Hai.
The U23 Vietnam team will continue as the top team in Group B. The second team with the best results in Group A, Khuat Van Khang and his teammates will avoid the prospect of facing the top team in Group A or C. Therefore, in the semi-final, coach Kim Sang-sik and his team will face the U23 Philippines.
The above comments are completely reasonable. In the group stage, in the opening match against U23 Laos, the U23 Vietnam team played quite a deadlock, having to wait for Khuat Van Khang's individual moment or corner kicks. While the 2-1 victory over U23 Cambodia was also quite difficult, the Vietnamese players even conceded a goal from a set piece.
With what U23 Vietnam has shown up to now, it is not enough to create peace of mind among fans. The fact that opportunities are wasted many times is also a matter to discuss. Therefore, in the semi-final round, it is a direct elimination round, the efficiency and courage are what make the difference.
However, coach Kim Sang-sik is having difficulty with personnel as center back Ly Duc is injured and is uncertain to play. Commentator Hoang Hai shared: "The absence of Ly Duc will cause the vertical axis of the U23 Vietnam team to break down. Ly Duc is the player with the best form in the defense, and can also create a connection with the midfield in the ball deployment stage.
In addition, Ly Duc is ready to make contributions on the attack front like the way this player scored against the U23 Cambodia net. I think Ly Duc's absence will force coach Kim Sang-sik to adjust the center-back position, maybe Nhat Minh will be dragged into the midfield, or U23 Vietnam can switch to a 4-2-3-1 formation".
On the other side, U23 Philippines is rated lower. However, different from the weak image in the past, U23 Philippines is now an organized and very practical team. They won all two group stage matches, including an important victory over U23 Malaysia, a match in which they were forced to play but still knew how to launch the decisive blow.
U23 Philippines is not too strong in ball control but is very dangerous in set pieces and counter-attacks. Factors such as Mariona, Banatao or center back Pena all showed their resilience, not afraid of pressure. This team plays simply, organizedly and is especially effective in the last third of the field when they counterattack quickly," commented commentator Hoang Hai.
Against an opponent with many naturalized players, physical advantages and discipline, U23 Vietnam needs to be cautious, control the ball well, avoid falling into a situation where the opponent counterattacks when raising the formation. According to commentator Hoang Hai, the upcoming semi-final will be a tug-of-war match in the middle of the field. Each team will have a different way of entering the game.
U23 Vietnam will proactively hold the ball and play controlling. Meanwhile, U23 Philippines are sure to defend in large numbers, waiting for a counter-attack opportunity. With this situation, just one minute of neglect will pay the price. Whichever team has a different individual will win. On the U23 Vietnam side, Khuat Van Khang is still the leader, while Quoc Viet needs an explosive match to prove his worth. Meanwhile, Mariona and Banatao are two fast, well- vermicellied players of the U23 Philippines and need to be wary. I predict U23 Vietnam will win 2-1 or 1-0 but will have to sweat a lot to keep the ticket to the final, commentator Hoang Hai commented.
The semi-final match between U23 Vietnam and U23 Philippines will take place at 4:00 p.m. on July 25 at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta (Indonesia), live on FPT Play.
