Tien Linh reveals the secret behind Vietnam’s victory over Philippines

The Vietnam national football team experienced an intense and thrilling match against the Philippines at My Dinh Stadium, ultimately emerging victorious with a 3-2 win. This crucial victory keeps Vietnam’s hopes alive in the second round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Nguyen Tien Linh was the hero of the match, scoring a crucial double. This performance marks a remarkable comeback for the Binh Duong striker, who had been underwhelming for an extended period. Speaking after the game, Tien Linh emphasized the tactical instructions from the coach and the team’s resilience.

“The coach instructed all forwards to penetrate the penalty area and create scoring opportunities,” Tien Linh said. “Conceding first was unexpected, but we maintained our focus on scoring. Even after conceding late in the game, we demonstrated the Vietnamese spirit. The team fully deserved this victory, and we now look forward to the next match against Iraq.”

One of Tien Linh’s goals was a spectacular header that put Vietnam ahead 2-1. Reflecting on this goal, he explained, “When I saw Tuan Tai with space to cross, I positioned myself to head the ball. I understand my teammates well, and we have practiced these scenarios extensively in training.”

With this win, Vietnam now has six points, trailing Indonesia by one point before the final match. To secure advancement, Vietnam must defeat Iraq while hoping that Indonesia does not win against the Philippines.

Discussing the team’s chances of advancing, Tien Linh stated, “We are only one point behind Indonesia. The match against Iraq is crucial and will be a tough away game. Our chances are still alive. We hope to get a good result against Iraq while the Philippines could potentially challenge Indonesia. Our chances of progressing are 50-50.”

In the final match, Vietnam will face Iraq away at 01:00 on June 12. Meanwhile, Indonesia will host the Philippines at 19:30 on June 11. The outcome of these matches will determine the fate of Vietnam in their quest to advance in the World Cup qualifiers.