Hot spots to decide the match between Vietnam and China

1. Bui Tien Dung vs Wu Lei

Wu Lei is the biggest difference between the Chinese team andVietnam teamin the first leg. The Espanyol star contributed 2/3 goals for China and both goals were smart runs, moving right into the "blind spot" of the Vietnamese national team's defense.

Wu Lei is the brightest star on the Chinese side. Photo: AFC

Wu Lei's quickness, efficiency and simplicity in playing style help this player excel compared to the rest of the Chinese stars. In this match, young center back Nguyen Thanh Binh was assigned the task of marking Wu Lei but failed to complete it. He made a direct mistake that caused the Vietnamese team to lose 1 point in the last seconds.

In the second leg, the task of "locking down" Wu Lei will be handed over to Bui Tien Dung. The captain of Viettel Club is still the most solid name in the defense system when Que Ngoc Hai is absent due to being positive for Covid-19. Playing at the bottom position in the 3-man defense, Bui Tien Dung needs to keep a close eye on Wu Lei.

2. Thanh Chung vs Zhang Yuning

Before Wu Lei shined, Zhang Yuning was the most outstanding player in the first leg. Yuning is the only Chinese U22 player in the 0-2 loss to U22 Vietnam in September 2019 who is in the national team at this time.

Compared to Wu Lei, Yuning is not highly regarded for his cunning and sharpness. In return, this striker has an ideal physique to act as a wall and gain an advantage in aerial battles. Yuning's dynamism in the first leg often caused the Vietnamese national team's defense system to be alarmed.

Thanh Chung returns to the Vietnam National Team's defensive trio. Photo: Ba Tuan

The responsibility of marking Yuning will most likely fall on Thanh Chung. In the match against Australia a few days ago, Coach Park only sent Thanh Chung onto the field towards the end of the match. Therefore, he has a good physical foundation and is ready to take up 1 of 3 positions in the central defense of the Vietnam National Team.

The player born in 1997 has enough experience and aerial ability to cope with Yuning's jumping moves.

3. Hoang Duc vs Wuxi

In the Chinese national team, Wu Xi is a defensive midfielder along with Yin Hongbo. This player has a very good ability to intercept from a distance, and he will face Hoang Duc, who is playing more and more impressively in the Vietnamese national team.

Hoang Duc confronts defensive midfielder Wu Xi. Photo: Ba Tuan

The Viettel player promises to have many confrontations with the opponent's number 15. In addition to his ability to distribute the ball, Hoang Duc's long-range shots can completely make a difference in the match.

4. Van Thanh vs Wu Xinghan

As well as the left wing, the right wing ofThe Vietnamese team, with Van Thanh's presence, will face great pressure from Wu Xinghan. Although he was only called up by coach Li Tie in May, Wu Xinghan quickly took over the starting position, playing in 4 matches and scoring 1 goal.

Van Thanh is ready to confront Wu Xinghan. Photo: Ba Tuan

Van Thanh's mission is not only to restrain Wu Xinghan, but also to attack, support his teammates, and create pressure to find goals for the Vietnamese team.

5. Cong Phuong/Tien Linh vs Zhang Linpeng

Cong Phuong is the great hope in the attack of the Vietnam national team in the rematch with China. In the first leg, he only played for a few minutes at the end of the match but still left a strong impression with his aggressive dribbling.

With Tien Linh having fully recovered from Covid-19, Coach Park can completely use the option of playing 2 strikers. Cong Phuong and Tien Linh will be responsible for scoring goals for the "Golden Star Warriors".

Linpeng (number 5) will follow closely behind Cong Phuong or Tien Linh. Photo: Ba Tuan

In terms of 1v1 ability, the player from HAGL is not too inferior. Cong Phuong's main opponent in this match is Zhang Linpeng - the player known as "Chinese Sergio Ramos" with 88 appearances for the national team.

Linpeng is 32 years old this year and his weakness is his poor ability to turn the ball. Cong Phuong can take advantage of his personal technique and his ball-turning moves to "twist" his opponent.

With Tien Linh, this player will almost certainly be the "default" striker for the Vietnam national team in the match against China. The opponent has certainly studied the playing style of the Binh Duong Club striker very carefully, and will assign Zhang Linpeng the task of marking him.

Possessing a good physical foundation and a height of 1m85, Zhang Linpeng is a challenge to overcome if Tien Linh wants to score against China.