Dinh Bac reveals the key strategy that helped Vietnam U22 win the championship.
Trailing 2-0 after the first half, striker Dinh Bac revealed that the psychological tactics employed by coach Kim Sang-sik were the turning point that helped the Vietnam U22 team come from behind to win 3-2 against Thailand.
A historic comeback in the SEA Games 33 final.
The Vietnam U22 team completed one of the most dramatic comebacks in SEA Games history, defeating host Thailand U22 3-2 in the final to win the Gold Medal. The hero of the match, striker Nguyen Dinh Bac, shared his thoughts on the turning point stemming from coach Kim Sang-sik's instructions during halftime.
The first half was challenging.
Entering the final match, the Vietnam U22 team faced immense pressure from the host nation. With his impressive form throughout the tournament, Dinh Bac became a prime target for the Thai defenders, who marked him very closely. The disconnect between the Hanoi Police star and his teammates made it difficult for the Vietnam U22 team to play. As a result, Kim Sang-sik's squad conceded two quick goals in the first half, leaving them in a very unfavorable situation.
Coach Kim Sang-sik's leadership brought about a change in the game.
However, the game's dynamics changed completely after halftime. According to Dinh Bac, coach Kim Sang-sik employed an extremely effective psychological tactic. "Coach Kim told us that to win, we needed to score an equalizer before the 60th minute," the striker shared.
This clear objective became the guiding principle for the entire team. At the beginning of the second half, it was Dinh Bac, with a skillful breakthrough in the penalty area, who forced the opposing defender to commit a foul, earning a penalty. From the penalty spot, he made no mistake, calmly reducing the score to 1-2. This goal was not just a number; it was a morale booster, relieving all pressure and rekindling hope for the Vietnam U22 team.
A breathtaking explosion and victory.
From that crucial equalizer, the Vietnamese players played brilliantly. They not only met but also exceeded the head coach's expectations. "We surpassed expectations with two goals in just 15 minutes of the second half and even secured the overall victory in extra time," Dinh Bac added. After equalizing 2-2 in regular time, the Vietnam U22 team scored the decisive goal in extra time to seal a 3-2 victory.
Sharing his feelings, Dinh Bac expressed his pride: "Wearing the Vietnamese national team jersey makes all the players proud and motivated to give their best. We persevered through difficult challenges, so the SEA Games 33 gold medal is a well-deserved achievement for the whole team." He also affirmed that this gold medal will be a great motivation for him to continue striving in his career.
