Coach Park Hang Seo's "tactical trap" solved after 2-0 victory over Malaysia

How do you rate the playing style of the Vietnamese team in this match?

Former coach Doan Minh Xuong:It must be admitted that the Vietnamese team played very intelligently and wisely. Coach Park Hang Seo's team defended very calmly and did not attack hastily. The team's decision to give up the field to the opponent in the first ten minutes was also part of the team's calculation, luring the opponent into a trap.

That means Malaysia was also surprised by the playing style of the Vietnamese team, and fell for the trick of coach Park Hang Seo's team, sir?

Former coach Doan Minh Xuong.

They were surprised when they suddenly had too much ball to control. From suddenly having too much ball to attack, they were the team that pushed up the formation first, pushing the two full-backs very high to attack. But it was also because of Malaysia pushing the two full-backs up that they fell into the trap of the Vietnamese team.

Our first goal came from a counter-attack on the flank, Van Hau passed from the left wing to Anh Duc, before the ball reached Cong Phuong and Cong Phuong scored the opening goal. The second goal was the same at the beginning of the second half. We played slowly at the beginning of the second half, after taking the lead, while Malaysia pushed forward to find an equalizer, then conceded the second goal.

Former coach Doan Minh Xuong:Why did the Vietnamese team still use two attacking midfielders, Quang Hai and Xuan Truong, from the start, instead of using a real defensive midfielder in the starting lineup?

The Vietnamese team surprised the opponent. Photo: Gia Hung

There are two main reasons. Firstly, because the team proactively ceded control of the ball to Malaysia from the start, the formation did not move up high, and without moving up high, there was no need for a defensive midfielder to prevent counterattacks from the opponent.

Second, we do not have a real defensive midfielder in the starting lineup, but are using a very valuable “virtual” central midfielder, Dinh Trong. There are many situations where Dinh Trong rushes forward to support the 2 central midfielders in front of him, effectively neutralizing the opponent’s passes, like a libero. In addition, the reasonable team distance and close positions also help support each other, providing better defense.

Former coach Doan Minh Xuong:What about the people, our people seem to be allowing coach Park Hang Seo to have many different personnel arrangements?

I talked about the case of Phan Van Duc replacing Van Quyet from the beginning, this was also a surprise. Obviously, the even personnel helped Mr. Park have the conditions to use many different options, one person replaced another without the team losing strength. Van Duc was stronger so he was arranged to play from the beginning, to better support the surrounding positions.

Que Ngoc Hai is also much more mature than in AFF 2016, and also very well replaces the position of central defender Bui Tien Dung. Ngoc Hai has the advantage of physique and ability to compete, so it is true that depending on the opponent, we can arrange suitable personnel, and the people we possess allow that.

The basic formation is 3-4-3, but currently the Vietnamese team can play with many different options around that formation, we can play attacking or counter-attacking. The Vietnamese players are maturing significantly, the whole team's system is also very smooth, after the success in the 2 U23 Asian and Asian Games!

Thank you!