In the wake of U23 Vietnam’s 3-1 victory over U23 Kuwait in their opening match at the U23 Asian Cup 2024, midfielder Vo Hoang Minh Khoa highlighted the importance of VAR and discussed the red card issued to Nguyen Ngoc Thang during the game.
Vo Hoang Minh Khoa shared that the team had been thoroughly briefed on the implementation of VAR throughout the tournament. Despite this preparation, U23 Vietnam encountered setbacks during the match. Nguyen Ngoc Thang’s foul resulted in a penalty and his subsequent red card, which allowed U23 Kuwait to equalize shortly after U23 Vietnam had taken the lead at the end of the first half.
“The coaching staff, led by Coach Hoang Anh Tuan, emphasized the importance of VAR before the tournament. However, sometimes in the heat of the moment, players can get caught up in fast-paced situations. These mistakes are a learning experience for the team, and we are reminded to continuously improve ourselves,” said Vo Hoang Minh Khoa.
Regarding Nguyen Ngoc Thang’s red card, Vo Hoang Minh Khoa expressed sympathy for his teammate’s situation. “Thang was obviously upset about the card. The whole team empathizes with him and we encourage him to keep training hard, maintain his fitness, and stay mentally prepared for the next challenges. It’s something we all support each other in every day.”
Despite the difficulties faced, U23 Vietnam secured a 3-1 win over U23 Kuwait, providing significant motivation for the upcoming match against U23 Malaysia scheduled for 8 PM on April 20.
“The first match is always tough for any player. Fortunately, we managed a good outcome against U23 Kuwait. This alleviates a lot of pressure. After the match, there was a positive atmosphere among the team as we discussed various moments from the game to learn and better prepare for the upcoming challenges,” added Vo Hoang Minh Khoa.
Today, April 19, the U23 Vietnam coaching staff will hold a meeting to review the previous game and plan strategies for the encounter with U23 Malaysia. A victory in this match would enhance Coach Hoang Anh Tuan’s side’s prospects of advancing to the quarter-finals of the U23 Asian Cup 2024.
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