Before the Vietnam - Philippines match: 10 years of waiting!
(Baonghean.vn) - It has been 10 years since the final match with the Thai team at the AFF Cup 2008, the Vietnamese team has not once again reached the final round of the regional playground. But this time, we hope it will be different!
Defeating the Philippines team 2-1 right on their opponent's field, the opportunity to win a ticket to the final match is within reach of coach Park Hang-seo and his team.
If Que Ngoc Hai and his teammates can get a draw or lose with a score of 0-1, the ticket to the final will belong to the Vietnamese team (if the away team wins with a score of 2-1, the second leg of the semi-final will go into 2 extra halves and possibly a penalty shootout).
Witnessing what happened in the first leg of the semi-final at Panaad Stadium, most experts and Southeast Asian football fans believe that the ticket to the final round of the AFF Cup 2018 is out of reach for coach Sven-Goran Eriksson and his team. Simply put, the Vietnamese team is superior to the Philippine team in many aspects.
 |
A fight for the ball between players of the two teams in the first leg of the semi-final of the AFF Cup 2018. Photo: AFF |
In addition to the advantage in terms of score, Que Ngoc Hai and his teammates will play at home at My Dinh Stadium, in front of the enthusiastic cheers of about 40,000 spectators. With a familiar field, Coach Park Hang-seo's students will easily perform their specialty small passes.
That will make the players of the Philippine team have to work extremely hard to defend. Do not forget, the Vietnamese team has not lost a home match in official tournaments since the 0-3 defeat against the Thai team in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers (October 13, 2015).
After the Vietnamese team defeated coach Sven-Goran Eriksson and his team in the first leg of the semi-finals, experts and domestic football fans warned coach Park Hang-seo and his team about the "curse" of My Dinh Stadium in previous AFF Cups.
In the past, the Vietnamese team was also in a favorable situation like the present, but could not take advantage and was eliminated bitterly (AFF Cup 2014 semi-final with the Malaysian team).
 |
Vietnam's 2-4 defeat against Malaysia in the second leg of the AFF Cup 2014 semi-final. Photo: Internet |
However, under the leadership of coach Park Hang-seo, the Vietnamese team is demonstrating the necessary coolness and sharpness. The 2 victories against the Malaysian team (2-0) and the Philippine team (2-1) are clear proof.
Que Ngoc Hai and his teammates do not need to show dominance over their opponents, but their effectiveness is at its maximum level. Therefore, the hope of a comeback by coach Sven-Goran Eriksson and his team against the Vietnamese team is extremely fragile.
We know that unexpected things always happen in football, but a great opportunity is coming to the Vietnamese team in the second leg of the AFF Cup 2018 semi-finals./.
