AFF Cup 2018: Vietnam team with the right to self-determination

Coach Tan Cheng Hoe's Malaysian squad remained largely unchanged, except for right-back Aznan. However, the Bukit Jalil team's style of play was much different from the group stage, although they still used a lot of wing play. Meanwhile, as usual, Mr. Park still made some surprising decisions, this time with Ha Duc Chinh playing as a center forward.

FeelingBukit Jalil

Mr. Tan still uses 2 "veterans" Norshahrul Idlan, Zaquan Adha in the attack line in the 4-4-2 formation, but the 2 wingers Safawi, Sumareh, in addition to the overlapping attack, constantly change wings. The two midfielders Akram and Syamer are required to play higher, together with Norshahrul Idlan to form a good attacking triangle in front of goalkeeper Van Lam's goal.

Vietnam national team starting lineup. Photo: Goal

Meanwhile, on the Vietnamese side, striker Ha Duc Chinh will be quite regretful because in his rare time in the starting lineup, he faced goalkeeper Farizal twice but could not score. Therefore, Duc Chinh's chance to start in the return leg is almost gone and he can only blame himself.

While Anh Duc, Van Quyet, and Cong Phuong were all sitting on the sidelines, the burden of the attack rested on the shoulders of two young players, Van Duc and Quang Hai. While Van Hai made 5-6 passes to Duc Chinh and substitute Tien Linh, Van Duc made two assists. It is true that the future of the national team depends heavily on these two players, with the first leg of the final being the first leg.

After more than 20 minutes of being pressured by the opponent, suddenly from the left wing, Van Duc had a good stretch, easily turning the back of defender Aznan, who was on the field for the first time, to pass back for Huy Hung to score the opening goal. Only 3 minutes later, in a wing-changing situation, Van Duc held the ball and waited for Duc Huy to rush forward before passing the ball to this Hanoi player to unleash a powerful left-footed shot.

Not the strikers but the two central midfielders Huy Hung and Duc Huy scored from two long-range shots. As for why there were goals from long-range shots and why Huy Hung and Duc Huy started from the start, perhaps only coach Park Hang-seo has the correct answer. However, his team formation and player changes have been as precise as the Big Ben clock (UK) for more than a year working with Vietnamese football.

Coach Tan Cheng Hoe is also not a rookie after many years of being an assistant to foreign coaches K. Rajagobal and Nelo Vingada. Up to now, Malaysia's attacking style of play has not brought them 3 points, losing to Vietnam at My Dinh Stadium, drawing with Thailand in both semi-final matches but that has not made the Malaysians give up their attacking intention. That is also something to admire about Malaysia!

Right to self-determination

In another match, Malaysia had 59% possession, 401 passes (compared to Vietnam 291), 78% accuracy (Vietnam 70%) and lost 0-2. But we have to admit they are a brave team, with a little luck they got 1 point back at Bukit Jalil. Despite overwhelming attack, Malaysia scored from 2 set pieces, what an irony of the football field.

Van Duc helped both Huy Hung and Duc Huy score 2 goals. Photo: Trung Kien

The match at Bukit Jalil Stadium was worthy of the AFF Cup 2018 final, with the players playing on the best pitch in Asia, completely drained after a four-hour rainstorm. In the stands, the atmosphere was hot and passionate with more than 80,000 fans from both countries, but quite friendly, with no unfortunate incidents.

So on the field, although there were many heated situations between players of both teams, it only stopped at yellow cards, 5 for the home team and 3 for the away team Vietnam.

Malaysia is playing better and better, from losing 0-2 to now they have won a 2-2 draw in a match considered to be equal. In which, until the 7th match of AFF Cup 2018, Mr. Park Hang-seo has not yet played all his cards. He still has Van Toan ready, Hung Dung has returned and the midfielder duo Van Duc and Quang Hai are increasingly sharp and confident.

It is true that “three glues, cat sticks neck”, it was not until the third match with the Malaysians that we had the chance to keep the Gold Cup in Hanoi. Coach Park Hang-seo and his team deserved it, when the opportunity and the right to self-determination were in their hands!