U23 Vietnam holds U20 Korea to a draw
Apart from the two goals, neither team created many scoring opportunities. The unlimited substitutions kept the players in good shape. They both applied high-intensity pressure, leading to many mistakes but few situations.
Without three older players, Do Hung Dung, Nguyen Tien Linh and Nguyen Hoang Duc, U23 Vietnam could not overwhelm U20 Korea. The home team even conceded the first goal from striker Lee Young-jun's header, but Vietnam equalized after only three minutes with a penalty kick from captain Dang Van Toi.
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| Dang Van Toi's penalty kick... helped U23 Vietnam escape defeat against U20 Korea at Viet Tri Stadium, Phu Tho on the evening of April 19. Photo: Lam Thoa |
Coach Park Hang-seo was not happy with his players' performance at Viet Tri Stadium. He had to go to the sidelines to direct his players many times. The match was a trial match, so 21 players had the opportunity to play. Of those registered, only midfielder Nguyen Trong Long and goalkeeper Quan Van Chuan were not allowed to enter the field.
Both HAGL players named in this training session started, midfielder Duc Viet and Bao Toan. Duc Viet was the youngest player on the team, at 18 years old. He played 77 minutes, including a good through ball for Nguyen Van Tung to run down the left in the 71st minute. Van Tung flicked his foot inside for Thanh Minh to swoop in and miss the cushion in front of an empty goal, causing the best chance of the second half to be wasted.
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| Striker Ho Thanh Minh's regrettable miss in the 71st minute. Photo: Giang Huy |
The other teenage player on the team, striker Bui Vi Hao, also started from the start. Vi Hao won the penalty in the 17th minute, from a through ball from Huynh Cong Den. Vi Hao fell down in the penalty area, after being hit by a Korean central defender. Referee Nguyen Manh Hai blew the penalty for Vietnam despite the visitors' protests. At the 11m mark, captain Dang Van Toi shot low to the left corner, deflecting goalkeeper Cho Kim-kyu.
Three minutes earlier, South Korea had opened the scoring from a set piece. Captain Bae Jun-ho took a left corner kick, crossed it to the second post for a clear header. Inside, striker Lee Young Jun headed the ball into the far corner, close to the post. Goalkeeper Van Toan got a hand to it but still couldn't save it.
Apart from the two goals, neither team created many scoring chances. Unlimited substitutions kept the players in good shape. They both applied high-intensity pressure, leading to many mistakes but few situations.
After the match, Park and his team will move to Hang Day Stadium to play the U20 Korea team again on April 22. The team will play their opening match of the group stage of the 31st SEA Games against Indonesia on May 6.
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