Coach Kim Sang-sik praises determination and striker performance in Vietnam’s win over Philippines

Vietnam national team coach Kim Sang-sik attributed the team’s 3-2 victory over the Philippines in the fifth round of the World Cup 2026 Asian qualifiers to the collective determination and opportunistic strikes by forwards Nguyen Tien Linh and Pham Tuan Hai.

In a challenging home match, Vietnam struggled initially against the Philippines, facing two close calls in the first half and falling behind in the 62nd minute. However, Tien Linh’s two goals within 15 minutes of the second half turned the tide. Although the team missed several chances and conceded an equalizer from a set piece in the 89th minute, substitute Tuan Hai’s opportunistic goal in the fifth minute of stoppage time secured the win.

“Football is always unpredictable, and today’s game proved that. The Philippines had two scoring chances in the first half but lacked the precision to convert them. On the other hand, Vietnam won thanks to Tien Linh and Tuan Hai, two excellent forwards who capitalized on their opportunities,” Coach Kim said in the post-match press conference.

The 3-2 home victory achieved a dual objective for Vietnam: ending a seven-match losing streak and earning three points to stay in contention for advancing to the third round of World Cup qualifiers. The comeback win also provided a successful start for Coach Kim Sang-sik, who took over in early May and had only five training sessions with the players.

The South Korean coach acknowledged that today’s win alleviated some of the pressure on him and his team. “It has been a long time since the Vietnamese team last won. The team only had five days to prepare, which is very little time, but the players played with all their passion. I think that was also a key factor in today’s victory,” Coach Kim added.

He admitted feeling the most pressure when the Philippines equalized in the 89th minute. “At that moment, I saw there was very little time left. Instead of making tactical adjustments, I focused on helping the players stay calm,” he said.

Throughout the match, Coach Kim rarely returned to the technical area, opting to stand on the sidelines to closely monitor and guide his players. “I don’t get tired from standing continuously like that. The players who play the entire match on the field are the ones who get tired,” he noted.

The 47-year-old coach revealed that he bought a new shirt to wear for his debut match with the Vietnam team. He also promised to strive harder in upcoming games to bring joy to the fans and asked for continued support from the supporters.

In this match, goalkeeper Dang Van Lam started instead of Nguyen Filip, who had been the first choice under previous coach Philippe Troussier. Van Lam’s performance, which included conceding two goals, posed a selection dilemma for Coach Kim. However, he saw it as a positive challenge.

“Van Lam and Filip both showed good form, but only one could start. It was a tough decision, and I had to consult with the goalkeeper coach before choosing Van Lam today. Having two goalkeepers in good form is a positive thing because the competition will bring out the best in them. It’s our job to encourage both to keep striving,” Coach Kim explained.

In the next round, Vietnam will face Iraq away at Basra Stadium.

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