What 'secret weapons' does Coach Park have at My Dinh Stadium?

With the playing style of the Vietnamese team under coach Park Hang-seo, our team does not depend too much on any individual. Instead, each individual on the field can shine and score goals but is also ready to be the foundation for his teammates. The fact that Vietnam has the most players scoring goals at the AFF Cup 2018 is also something that experts have predicted.

Variety of strokes

Up to now at AFF Cup 2018, Vietnam has had 7 players scoring goals against their opponents: Anh Duc (3 goals), Cong Phuong (3 goals), Quang Hai (3 goals), Phan Van Duc (2 goals), Tien Linh, Huy Hung, Duc Huy (1 goal), becoming the team with the most players scoring goals in the tournament.

Coach Park Hang-seo's team has scored 14 goals against their opponents, losing only 3 goals to Thailand. Although they have scored 17 goals, Thailand only had 5 players score in the tournament, including Adisak (8 goals), Pansa, Supachai (3 goals), Pokklaw, Korrakot (1 goal). The remaining goal of this team came from an own goal by Irfan Zakaria (Malaysia).

Meanwhile, our opponent in the final match, Malaysia, also had 5 players scoring: Talaha (5 goals), Zaquan Adha Radzak (3 goals), Safawi Rasid, Shahrul Saad and Syahmi (1 goal).

Mr. Tan still expects Sumareh and Syahmi Safari to score. Photo: AFF

The four goals scored by Vietnam and Malaysia at Bukit Jalil Stadium were all scored by new faces. Vietnam's two goals were scored by Huy Hung and Duc Huy, while the home team's goals were scored by central defender Shahrul Saad and midfielder Safawi Rasid.

Obviously, the Malaysian defense was very wary of Quang Hai and Van Duc - players who had "revealed" themselves in the group stage and semi-finals, while Duc Chinh was "clumsy" so he could not score a goal of his own.

Similarly, Que Ngoc Hai and the central defenders did not give Talaha and Zaquan Adha Radzak a chance to score. This will certainly be repeated at My Dinh Stadium and the two coaches must have backup plans when the main strikers are blocked.

Backup plans

In addition to being closely marked by the opponent, the constant high intensity of the matches causes the physical strength of the main players to be worn down. Therefore, in major tournaments, coaches always have to think long term and prepare many different scoring options.

Right winger Mohamadou Sumareh is the only player who has yet to score at the AFF Cup 2018. This naturalized player plays aggressively, often breaking through from the right wing, but his crosses and coordination with the Malaysian players are not really good. Simply put, this player was only added to the Malaysian team a few weeks before the AFF Cup 2018.

Van Toan and Hung Dung are still the "secret weapons" of the Korean coach. Photo: AFF

In Sumareh's Bukit field match, defender Van Hau had a hard time with a player with one of the best physiques in Malaysia. It is very likely that, in addition to using it to destroy the home team, when necessary, coach Tan Cheng Hoe will push this naturalized Gambian player to play as a center forward to focus the ball in the air there.

The visitors’ right flank will be stronger with Syahmi Safari returning from suspension. After scoring his first goal at the AFF Cup 2018, Safawi Rasid continues to be considered the key player in Malaysia’s squad who can make a difference. In our opinion, Safawi Rasid will be even more dangerous than in the first leg of the final.

After Huy Hung and Duc Huy scored, Coach Park still had a midfielder who was very energetic and had a powerful long-range shot, Hung Dung. Along with Van Toan, Hung Dung was still the Korean coach's "secret weapon". Surely Anh Duc, Van Duc and Quang Hai would be closely monitored by the opposing team, and the remaining players would have a chance.

Mr. Park is a man of many tricks, everyone is waiting for his unique trick to help the Vietnamese team win at My Dinh Stadium.