U22 Vietnam vs U22 Macau: A goalfest at Thong Nhat Stadium?

(Baonghean.vn) - We don't know if the meteorologist's forecast about the rain this afternoon (July 21st) at Thong Nhat Stadium is accurate, but a 'rain of goals' into the U22 Macau net will certainly happen.

In the second match of Group I in the 2018 AFC U23 Asian Cup qualifiers, Macau U22 will face host nation Vietnam U22. It's worth remembering that in the 2016 AFC U23 Asian Cup qualifiers two years ago, Vietnam U23 defeated Macau U23 (China) 7-0 in a waterlogged match at Shah Alam Stadium (Malaysia).

In this match, Thanh Bình and Công Phượng scored hat-tricks, along with a goal from Ngọc Thắng. Coach Tam Lao San, who also led the Macau U22 team two years ago, said that the majority of the Macau squad are only 18 to 19 years old.

Some players on the team are students or working professionals; they take up football purely for enjoyment. Currently, Macau is rejuvenating its squad, with 12 out of 20 players born in 1997 or later.

Opportunity for the second team

Against a weaker opponent, this is a good opportunity for coach Huu Thang to use a second-string lineup, while also resting key players in preparation for the crucial match against U22 South Korea at 7:00 PM on July 23rd.

The Macau U22 team (in blue) has quite a few amateur players. Photo: Dung Nguyen

No one can predict the outcome before the match starts, but it's clear that Vietnam U22's chances of winning against South Korea U22 are very low. It would be more realistic to rest key players on the bench to secure a favorable result against the defending runners-up. Even a slight defeat against South Korea U22 could significantly increase Vietnam U22's chances of finishing among the top five best second-placed teams.

It is highly likely that the Vietnam U22 team will play a 4-4-2 formation with quite a few changes, from the goalkeeper to all three lines. Players like Van Thanh, Tuan Anh, Van Khanh, and Cong Phuong will likely be rested after the "waterlogged match on the Thong Nhat River".

The midfield will be occupied by Xuan Truong, returning after his suspension, along with Dong Trieu, while Quang Hai will be given a chance on the left wing. Thanh Binh will certainly be given the opportunity to warm up against Macau's defense, which is considered to be "not yet fully familiar with the game."

It is highly likely that captain Tien Dung will partner with center-back Dinh Trong, and left-back Van Hau will make his second appearance for the Vietnam U22 team. Facing players whose technical skills are not outstanding, such as Chu Kai Wang and Wantin Lao, defenders Van Kien and Van Hau will certainly gain valuable experience.

People are waiting to see how the U22 coaching staff will utilize Duy Mạnh now that Xuân Trường has returned. In the recent match against U22 East Timor, besides his ability to intercept passes from afar, Duy Mạnh was the one who assisted Tuấn Anh's goal to seal the 4-0 victory for U22 Vietnam. A versatile player, Duy Mạnh has also played as a central defender for Hanoi FC thanks to his tall stature and good game reading ability.

Prepare multiple options.

Many people criticize the VFF for being "cheap" and therefore organizing the 2018 U23 Asian Championship qualifiers in Ho Chi Minh City, which is inaccurate. In reality, even Hanoi often experiences prolonged rain at this time of year, so to win, the U22 Vietnam team needs to have more tactical options.

Following the "waterlogged" match, many players from the Vietnam U22 starting lineup will be rested by the coaching staff for the match against Macau U22. Photo: Dung Nguyen

For the second-string team, if they face a deadlock against U22 Macau, coach Huu Thang will bring on Tuan Anh, Cong Phuong, and Van Thanh from the bench. These are the players who performed very impressively in the recent match against U22 East Timor.

Our goal is to score as many goals as possible, and the Macau U22 team is an opportunity for our players to bombard the goal. Even if it doesn't rain and the pitch is dry, the Vietnam U22 team could play with a 3-4-3 formation, just like the South Korea U22 team did against the Macau student team.

The defense, with players like Cheong Tin Long, Kam Chi Hou, Wa Seng, and Wang Keng, is physically strong but lacks good cover, is rather slow to react, and frequently commits fouls. Hopefully, Quang Hai and Xuan Truong will have the opportunity to showcase their free-kick skills in this match.

Fans are eagerly anticipating a "goal shower" against goalkeeper Lo Weng Hou at Thong Nhat Stadium. More importantly, they want to see the young Vietnamese players gradually improve in their ball control and shooting.

N@T