Vietnam beat Laos 2-0, but the old question mark still lingers.
The three points came from a 68th-minute penalty by Nguyen Xuan Son and a decisive goal by Tuan Hai, but finishing and breaking through a deep defensive block remain unresolved issues.
In the 68th minute, the pressure weighing heavily on the Vietnamese team was finally relieved: Tuan Hai earned a penalty, which Nguyen Xuan Son successfully converted. In injury time, Tuan Hai sealed the 2-0 victory. A satisfactory outcome in terms of points, but the way they achieved it exposed familiar flaws in the team's attacking play under coach Kim Sang-sik.
The first half was deadlocked, a frank admission.
Vietnam controlled possession but struggled against Laos' deep defensive block. After the match, coach Kim Sang-sik didn't shy away from the criticism: "We analyzed the Laotian team very carefully, but there's a clear gap between training and actual matches. The Vietnamese team will have to improve further," he shared. This assessment accurately reflected the deadlock in the first 45 minutes, where passing lacked sharpness and shots were of insufficient quality.
The low-block problem and wasted opportunities.
Laos – similar to Nepal in the previous match – erected a dense defensive wall. The familiar scenario repeated itself: Vietnam had opportunities but lacked sharpness in the final touches. Tien Linh faced an empty net at least twice without converting; Hoang Duc had a well-placed shot but it lacked power. When the opponent actively retreats, every touch and finishing decision requires absolute precision – something the team still lacks.
The Quang Hai – Hoang Duc double experiment: rotation is present, but the attacking rhythm is lacking.
Coach Kim used two creative midfielders simultaneously, hoping to increase ball circulation. However, the fluidity of the attacking layers didn't materialize as expected. He admitted, "The performance wasn't as good as expected; everything needs time to improve." The problem lies not only in the tactical ideas but also in the tempo and final touches, where Vietnam lacked a decisive pass or a penetrating run to break through the defense.
The crucial moment: the 68th-minute penalty and the role of Nguyen Xuan Son.
The deadlock was only broken by a set piece. Tuan Hai earned a penalty, which Nguyen Xuan Son successfully converted, unlocking the game. From then on, the team's morale was boosted, and their attacks became more fluid before Tuan Hai sealed the victory in injury time. However, relying on a set piece against a demotivated opponent like Laos continues to raise questions about the team's attacking efficiency. Vietnam still has to rely on Xuan Son, even though he has only recently returned to the team.
Defense: clean sheet but not yet error-free.
Despite keeping a clean sheet, the defense had moments of lapses in concentration, forcing goalkeeper Van Lam to make at least two saves. If the Laotian strikers had been more clinical, the outcome could have been different. This serves as a reminder that the margin of error still exists even against opponents who don't apply constant pressure.
Impacts and warnings ahead of the next leg of the journey.
The 2-0 victory solidified their second place in Group F of the Asian Cup Qualifiers and fulfilled their points target. However, the message from the 90 minutes in Vientiane was clear: the problem of breaking down Laos' deep defensive block and the wasteful finishing remain key issues. Ahead lies a crucial match against a much stronger opponent, Malaysia. Without significant improvement, those hard-fought three points from Laos will likely be meaningless when facing a much greater challenge.
