With only two players available for substitutions, Vietnam U23 still made it to the final.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Vietnamese U23 team only had 13 players available for the semi-final match against Timor Leste U23. Many of the strikers were not playing in their preferred positions. This presents a significant tactical challenge for the Vietnamese U23 head coach. He must arrange his players to ensure they work well together, and, importantly, to ensure that only 13 players can complete the entire match.

Due to a shortage of players, goalkeeper Liem Dieu had to play as a forward. Photo: Internet

On the opposing side, the Timor Leste U23 team is considered to have improved significantly compared to before. Their players have a lot of international experience. Prior to this tournament, they had participated in various major and minor competitions to gain experience, such as the 2022 U23 Asian Cup qualifiers and the 2020 AFF Cup. Importantly, Timor Leste's squad for this match is intact, and none of their players have contracted Covid-19.

For this match, coach Dinh The Nam called up center-back Ho Khac Luong from SLNA. However, the young player from Nghe An province had only recently moved to Cambodia, so he was not included in the starting lineup.

Despite facing those difficulties, the Vietnamese U23 team entered the match with great confidence, fueled by the spirit of the Golden Star Warriors.

In the opening minutes of the match, it was Coach Dinh The Nam's players who had the better game than their opponents. Maintaining good positional discipline and playing with composure, Vietnam U23 had better ball control than Timor Leste U23. The Vietnamese strikers executed many fluid one-touch passes in front of the opponent's penalty area, causing considerable confusion for the defense of Fabio Joaquim Maciel's team. With a bit of luck, the team nicknamed the Golden Star had a chance to open the scoring. This was Bao Toan's shot in the 13th minute, but it lacked the power to beat goalkeeper Pereira.

On the other side of the pitch, Timor Leste lacked a cohesive playing style based on collective strength; instead, they relied solely on individual efforts. Therefore, for more than half of the first half, coach Fabio Joaquim Maciel's players failed to put any significant pressure on Tuan Hung's goal.

The Vietnam U23 team displayed a variety of attacking strategies, both from the flanks and through the center. This dynamic style of play created numerous scoring opportunities. However, neither team managed to make a difference in the first half.

With determination and confidence, the Vietnam U23 team earned a place in the final. Photo: Internet

In the second half, Coach Dinh The Nam's team no longer maintained a high tempo, opting for a slower and more cautious approach. They reasoned that expending too much energy without scoring would easily lead to a defeat in extra time, as the Vietnamese players' stamina would be compromised, and there wouldn't be enough substitutes available. The team, nicknamed "Golden Star," had to play with a significant shortage of players, resulting in fewer opportunities in the opponent's penalty area compared to the first half. However, the U23 Vietnam team still had a clear chance in the 86th minute when Vo Nguyen Hoang headed the ball from close range, but it narrowly went over the crossbar.

The two halves of the match ended without either side scoring a goal, forcing the two teams to go into extra time.
It was quite unusual for Vietnamese football when Trung Thanh was unable to continue playing, forcing goalkeeper Liem Dieu to replace him as a striker. Vietnam's already difficult situation became even more challenging, but this demonstrated the indomitable spirit of the Golden Star Warriors, refusing to be defeated by their opponents. Despite facing numerous difficulties, Coach Dinh The Nam's players still created many opportunities in extra time. If Bao Toan or Nguyen Hoang had been more composed and calm, they could have made a difference.
With unwavering determination, our players secured their place in the final with a 5-3 victory in the penalty shootout.

In their final match of the tournament, Vietnam U23 will face their arch-rivals Thailand U23 at 7:30 PM on February 26th.

Vietnam: Tuan Hung - Quang Thinh, Tuan Tai, Anh Viet, Thanh Nhan, Dinh Quy, Dinh Hai, Trung Thanh, Bao Toan, Nguyen Hoang, Tien Dat.

Substitutes: Liem Dieu, Khac Luong.

Timor Leste: Pereira - Jaimito Soares, Oliveira, Martins, Halle, Mota, Da Costa, Paulo Gali, Fernandes, Gusmao, Joao Soares.

Subs: Nogueira, Georgino, Xavier, Orcelio, De Jesus, Correia, Portela, Moreira, Natalino, Quintao, Viegas, Kefi.

Duc Anh