Shocking: Vietnam pays a heavy price for its victory over Japan.
Key midfielder Do Hung Dung suffered a broken toe and had to withdraw from the 2018 Asian Games early.
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Hung Dung had to ask his teammates to take off his shoes to ease the pain. Photo: Duc Dong |
Hung Dung suffered an injury after a tackle and limped off the field at the end of the first half. He was then taken to the hospital for first aid in an ambulance before being examined. An MRI scan revealed that the Vietnamese midfielder had fractured his left big toe. According to the doctor's recommendation, surgery is the best course of action. It is expected that Hung Dung will be out of action for at least a month.
A source from the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) said that Hung Dung will have his leg casted and be brought back to Vietnam for treatment.
According to the regulations, teams are not allowed to substitute players during the tournament, meaning Vietnam will be short of players before their Round of 16 match.
Hung Dung is one of three Vietnamese players over 23 years old. During the squad selection process for the trip to Indonesia, coach Park Hang-seo surprised many by dropping goalkeeper Van Lam to make room for Hung Dung. Hung Dung did not disappoint his coach, performing well. After coming on as a substitute in the second half of the opening match against Pakistan, the Hanoi FC midfielder started in the game against Nepal.
In the match against Japan this afternoon, Hung Dung also started, playing aggressively in midfield and frequently being present in key areas, making a significant contribution to Vietnam's victory.
Without Hung Dung, Vietnam's midfield is left with only Xuan Truong, Duc Huy, Quang Hai, and Minh Vuong. However, coach Park Hang-seo will face difficulties in selecting personnel because the aforementioned midfielders tend to play offensively and technically, rather than being strong in tackling.
