Vietnam 1 - 1 North Korea: Tien Linh scores, away team equalizes from free kick
(Baonghean.vn) - As part of the friendly match before the 2019 Asian Cup, Coach Park Hang-seo and his players will host the North Korean team at My Dinh Stadium to test new positions and tactics to find the official lineup for the Asian campaign.
Goals: Tien Linh 55' - Jong Il Gwan 82'
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| A ball in a friendly match between Vietnam and North Korea - Photo VNE |
To prepare for the 2019 Asian Cup, the Vietnam national team will have two friendly matches, starting with a reunion with North Korea at My Dinh Stadium on December 25. This will be an opportunity for players who have not shown themselves at the 2018 AFF Cup to score points with Coach Park.
The absence of players who have made a good impression such as Anh Duc, Dinh Trong, Trong Hoang or Xuan Hung can be both a challenge for coach Park Hang-seo and an opportunity for other names to show their ability. Players Tien Dung, Tung Quoc, Hong Duy, Duc Huy, Duc Chinh and Minh Vuong will be the players who receive expectations.
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| The friendly match against the North Korean team will be a big step in the preparation for the 2019 Asian Cup. Photo: Trung Kien |
Vietnam entered the friendly match at My Dinh Stadium with a squad that included many experiments under coach Park Hang-seo. However, Vietnam did not show any weakness and created many dangerous situations. The draw against a strong opponent like North Korea is an encouraging sign when there are only 10 days left until Vietnam enters the group stage of the 2019 Asian Cup.
Two of the changes made by Coach Park Hang-seo are the appearance of Cong Phuong and Tien Linh in the front line. This duo mainly played a reserve role in the 2018 AFF Cup and took advantage of the opportunity to score. Cong Phuong had many skillful dribbles but the highlight was the pass for Tien Linh to run down and beat goalkeeper Ri Myong Guk at the beginning of the second half.
North Korea pressed forward in search of an equalizer in the last 20 minutes. The away team did not create many breakthroughs but took advantage of the rare opportunity from the free kick spot. From the edge of the 16m50 box, captain Jong Il Gwan kicked the ball beautifully into the far corner, making Bui Tien Dung's flying effort meaningless.
Line-up
Vietnam: Tuan Manh (Tien Dung 50'), Tien Dung, Thanh Chung (Duy Manh 46'), Van Hau (Ngoc Hai 50'), Minh Vuong, Huy Hung (Hung Dung 46'), Xuan Truong, Hong Duy, Van Dai (Duc Huy 82'), Cong Phuong, Tien Linh (Duc Chinh 71').
Chosen: Ri Myong Guk, Kim Chol Bom, Jang Kuk Chol, An Song Il, Kim Yong Il (Choe Song Hyok 42', Kang Kuk Chol 76'), Jong Il Gwan (Rim Kwang Hyok 86'), Sim Hyon Jun, Ri Un Chol, Pak Kwang Ryong, Kim Song Gi (Kim Kyong Hun 60'), Ri Yong Jik.
Pre-match press conference:
North Korean coach:"Before going to Hanoi, we learned about the Vietnamese team. They have a strong midfield and defense. The attack is also very sharp. Football is a popular sport in Vietnam and they just won the AFF Cup.
Coach Park Hang-seo:“The match against North Korea is the first match in the preparation for the 2019 Asian Cup. We do not have the strongest squad, as some players are injured, but I will create opportunities for the young players. The goal of this match is to test and limit injuries to best prepare for the 2019 Asian Cup finals.”
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