Dinh Bac sealed the 2-1 victory, Van Hau makes a promising comeback.

Two stages, one setting: at Rajamangala (Bangkok), Nguyen Dinh Bac secured a 2-1 victory for Vietnam U22 against Laos U22 in their opening match of the SEA Games 33; not far away, at Chang Arena, Doan Van Hau marked his return to Hanoi Police FC in the Southeast Asian Club Championship, providing solid defensive support for his team.

Dinh Bac unlocked the U22 Laos defense.

After being named the Best Player of the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship, Dinh Bac continued to prove his role as the number one striker for the Vietnam U22 team. Against a Laos U22 team that organized a dense, tight, and physical defense, he scored the opening goal with a burst of speed – receiving a favorable pass from Minh Phuc – and then once again sealed the match with a goal to make it 2-1.

Dinh Bac's standout quality lies in his versatility in the penalty area: he can shoot with both feet, head the ball, and hold up the ball, giving the Vietnam U22 team more options for attacking through the center and the far post. In situations where the opponent is playing defensively, every turn or diagonal movement of his behind the defenders creates rare gaps.

However, sharpness needs to be balanced with composure: this striker squandered 3-4 good scoring opportunities. When the other forwards haven't found their rhythm, coach Kim Sang-sik has to constantly encourage Dinh Bac to alleviate his "do it all" mentality. The Vietnam U22 team needs more coordinated attacks and support from the players to translate their advantage into a higher goal-scoring rate.

Tactical details: choosing your position and first touch of the ball.

Against a low defensive block, Dinh Bac's greatest value lies in his first touches after escaping a defender directly – either with speed or by using his body to create a wall. The opening goal came from precisely that type of situation. When U22 Laos equalized, he maintained his off-ball movement to exploit the rare space and neatly finish for the winning goal.

Van Hau's return: CAHN's defensive structure is more stable.

At Chang Arena, after more than two years recovering from injury, Doan Van Hau made his comeback in the match between Hanoi Police and Buriram United. The presence of this left-back immediately brought solidity to the left flank: he closed the gaps at the edge of the 16.5-meter area, read situations quickly, and prevented penetrating runs from the wing into the center.

Van Hau disrupted Peter Zulj's attacking moves, coordinating with the central defenders to limit striker Bissoli's effectiveness. Thanks to his vision and decisiveness in pressing, star player Bunmathan was unable to be effective and had to leave the field early. Structurally, CAHN's left flank was less stretched, allowing the midfield to maintain a more reasonable distance between players.

CAHN still regrets conceding the late equalizer from a penalty kick blocked by midfielder Mauk's handball, and the missed opportunities by their attackers when their opponents were down to ten men. The picture is therefore contradictory: their defense is strengthened by Van Hau, while their attack remains a concern – a similarity to how the Vietnam U22 team needs to improve their effectiveness in the final third of the pitch.

Perspective: the "anchoring" role on the left flank

When an experienced full-back like Van Hau returns, the entire system becomes more balanced. The central defenders are less likely to drift wide to cover, the defensive midfielders don't need to drop too deep to provide cover, and the attacking line has a stronger foundation for transitions. Against a strong opponent like Buriram United, effectively shutting down the left flank significantly reduced the chances of the opponent stretching the defense and then crossing dangerously back.

Impact and the next stage

The performances in Thailand brought bright signs for Vietnamese football: Dinh Bac ignited the U22 team with his goal-scoring efficiency and commitment – ​​he proactively requested permission to leave his club to play in the opening match of the SEA Games 33; at the club level, Van Hau added steel to the CAHN defense after a long break due to injury.

The joy was further amplified by Xuan Son's hat-trick in recent days, reinforcing the positive feeling about the team's personnel and form. What is still lacking is consistency in finishing and cohesion in attacking plays – elements that can be improved when the rhythm of play returns to regularity.

Looking ahead, the Vietnam U22 team faces a crucial test against Malaysia U22 on December 11th at the 33rd SEA Games. A sharper performance in terms of coordination and opportunism will be the measure of coach Kim Sang-sik's team's ambition to advance. With the morale boost from Dinh Bac and the return of key players like Van Hau, confidence has a solid foundation to translate into concrete results.