In the second match of the CFA Team China 2024 international friendly tournament on September 7, the U22 Vietnam team faced a strong Uzbekistan side. Head coach Dinh Hong Vinh continued his strategy of providing opportunities for as many players as possible to gain valuable match experience.
Before the match, a heavy downpour caused by the impact of Typhoon Yagi delayed the start time. Fortunately, the rain subsided, and the match commenced after a 30-minute delay.
With a fresh lineup, including eight changes from the first match against China, U22 Vietnam entered the game with determination. The players who were given the chance to play showed their best efforts. However, a penalty call in the 17th minute, when the referee ruled that a Vietnam defender fouled an Uzbek player in the box, changed the course of the match. Uzbekistan converted the penalty, and shortly after, they doubled their lead with a long-range strike in the 25th minute.
In the second half, coach Dinh Hong Vinh made three substitutions, bringing in more experienced players like Dinh Bac, Duc Viet, and Thanh Nhan. These changes brought more energy to U22 Vietnam, and they created several scoring opportunities. However, the finishing was lacking, and they couldn’t turn those chances into goals.
Explaining his decision to rotate the squad, coach Dinh Hong Vinh highlighted that most of the U22 players have had limited exposure to both domestic and international competition. Therefore, it was essential to give all the players opportunities to play, building a more experienced and battle-hardened squad for the U23 Vietnam team, which will compete in official tournaments in 2025. He also acknowledged that the team’s experimental approach might not yield immediate results in terms of match outcomes, but the primary goal remains player development for future U23 and national team duties.
In the final group stage match of the CFA Team China 2024 tournament, U22 Vietnam will face U22 Malaysia.
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