SEA Games Men's Football Semi-Finals: Uncovering the Mystery of U22 Cambodia

Regarding head-to-head record, our U22 Vietnam team won 4-1 against U22 Cambodia in the group stage of SEA Games 29 2 years ago. However, this is also the only time the two teams have faced each other recently and this result does not say much because the young Cambodian players have made remarkable progress in recent times.

The confrontationKeo Sokpheng- Trong Hoang

Left winger Keo Sokpheng is the most dangerous player of U22 Cambodia. Photo: VFF.

At the 2019 U22 Southeast Asian Championship held at home, in the semi-finals they drew with U22 Thailand and only lost on penalties after the penalty shootout. Then they lost to U22 Vietnam in the 3rd and 4th place matches. Before that, they had defeated U22 Myanmar and U22 Malaysia, so the results of the last 4 matches at the 30th SEA Games, U22 Cambodia won 2 matches, drew 1 match and lost 1 match did not surprise anyone.

The Angkor Warriors usually start with a 4-2-3-1 formation, with left winger Keo Sokpheng of course being the most dangerous player. Keo Sokpheng has scored 10 goals in 45 matches for the Cambodian national team in the past 4 years. It is worth noting that Keo Sokpheng's father is Chinese-Vietnamese, and his mother was born and raised in Tay Ninh. Having lived in Vietnam until the end of grade 9, the player born in 1992 is fluent in both Vietnamese and Khmer.

This number 14 has a quick close-range shot in the 16.5m box. In Group A, this player is especially dangerous when entering the penalty area and finishing on goal. At SEA Games 30, Keo Sokpheng has now scored 3 goals in 4 matches. He is an over-22 player chosen by coach Felix Dalmas to strengthen the U22 Cambodia squad at this tournament. People are looking forward to the Keo Sokpheng- Trong Hoang confrontation on this wing.

U22 Cambodia is currently enjoying their most impressive achievements.

Observing the style of play of U22 Cambodia under Coach Keisuke Honda and Felix Dalma, the Angkor warriors play more disciplined. They also combine small, low kicks with long passes to help the wingers accelerate, a style of play somewhat similar to U22 Indonesia.

In fact, although the performance was quite impressive, it is clear that Cambodian football still has a gap with Vietnam. If it were not for the poor performance of the defense and both goalkeepers, perhaps Mr. Park Hang-seo and Vietnamese fans could have been somewhat reassured. I wonder how Mr. Park will urgently "patch the gap" for the two goalkeepers after such elementary mistakes? Perhaps, it is time for the role of goalkeeper coach Tien Anh to be re-evaluated.

Offset defense

Trong Hoang is ready. Photo: VFF.

The strikers, Tien Linh, Duc Chinh, Hoang Duc are playing very impressively. We have won 4 matches and drawn 1 match, scored 17 goals and conceded 4 goals in the group stage of SEA Games 30 this time. But the results are showing signs of "slowing down" 6-0, 6-1, 2-1, 1-0, 2-2 making the home audience restless.

In addition to playing 1 less match and having 1 more day off (because Group A only has 5 teams), U22 Cambodia is said to be more familiar with playing on artificial turf than us. Because the Cambodian national stadium also uses artificial turf like the 30th SEA Games this time. Of course, players Bunhering Reung, Keo Sokpheng; Sin Sophanat... also have less pressure than Hung Dung, Tien Linh and the U22 Vietnam players. For coach Felix Dalma and his team, reaching the semi-finals is already a victory beyond the target.

What Vietnamese audiences are most assured of is that Mr. Park is increasingly showing his coaching class. He has instilled confidence in his players and through the match with U22 Thailand, the mettle of the U22 Vietnam players has risen to a new level. That is our most important weapon at this SEA Games!