Vietnam 2-0 Laos: Coach Ha Hyeok Jun talks about preparation.
Xuan Son scored a penalty in the 68th minute, and Tuan Hai sealed the victory in injury time. Coach Ha Hyeok Jun called this a failure of preparation; Vietnam finished second in Group F, 3 points behind Malaysia.
The Vietnamese national team won 2-0 against Laos after an explosive second half. After the match, coach Ha Hyeok Jun stated that the result reflected "a failure in preparation" rather than a difference in skill level; he also affirmed that he did not instruct his players to focus on marking Xuan Son individually. With 3 points, Vietnam finished second in Group F of the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, 3 points behind Malaysia.
The crucial moment
The deadlock was only broken after the break. Xuan Son opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 68th minute, before Tuan Hai sealed the 2-0 victory in injury time. According to coach Ha Hyeok Jun, the second half saw Vietnam change tactics, and that was the turning point.
Tactical analysis: reading the opponent's intentions, but not enough.
Coach Ha Hyeok Jun emphasized that Laos had prepared for all scenarios: Vietnam could play with 3 or 4 center-backs and were ready to change formations during the match. Although the first-half defensive plan worked well, the opponent's adjustments after the break caused Laos to be caught off guard in specific situations, leading to the conceded goal.
On a personal level, the message from the Laotian technical area was to maintain the defensive structure instead of over-marking: “We know there’s a high chance Xuan Son will come on… but I emphasize that they don’t need to focus too much on Xuan Son, just play normally like in the first half.”
Selective statistics
- Score: Laos 0-2 Vietnam
- Goals: Xuan Son (penalty 68'), Tuan Hai (injury time)
- Group F of the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers: Vietnam is second, 3 points behind Malaysia.
Coach Ha Hyeok Jun's reaction
“This was a failure of preparation. We prepared thoroughly for the match, studying all possibilities from the Vietnamese side… However, this is still a failure of preparation. The players tried their best, followed instructions, but they just didn't reach the level I expected.”
“We knew there was a high chance Xuan Son would come on… but I stressed that they didn’t need to focus too much on Xuan Son, just play normally like in the first half.”
“The players’ morale is very good. We usually lose more often than we win or draw because our opponents are stronger, and Vietnamese football also organizes bigger leagues, while Laos only has a national league with 10 teams and mostly amateur players. We encourage our players to work hard and constantly improve. Results like the win against Nepal, the draw against Indonesia or Thailand are proof of our efforts to close the gap.”
"Although the result wasn't what we hoped for, the players fought with high spirits. I hope Vietnamese football will also recognize and support the efforts of Lao football to progress."
Impact and significance
The victory helped Vietnam maintain their momentum in Group F, but they still trailed behind Malaysia. Conversely, Laos learned another lesson about tactical discipline and preparation, with a positive mental foundation emphasized by coach Ha Hyeok Jun.
The perspectives from both technical areas converge on one point: proactiveness and quality adjustments during the match will determine the outcome. Vietnam achieved this in the second half; Laos aimed to narrow the gap through persistence and a clear structure for the subsequent matches.
According to sources, Vietnam's coach Kim Sang Sik praised Laos' defense and emphasized that the team still needs to improve its playing style after the 2-0 victory.
