Coach Kim Sang-sik expressed deep regret after Vietnam’s 1-2 loss to Thailand in their friendly match at My Dinh Stadium on the evening of September 10. His desire to deliver a victory as a gift to the victims of Typhoon Yagi left him feeling disappointed when the team was unable to secure the win.
“I really wanted to win this match, but we couldn’t. As the head coach, I’m not satisfied,” Kim said. “Typhoon Yagi has brought many difficulties to the people of Vietnam. I wanted the team to dedicate this victory as a mental boost for them, but unfortunately, we couldn’t achieve it.”
Vietnam has now finished both friendly matches in September without earning a point. In the first game, the team suffered a heavy 0-3 defeat to Russia. However, the South Korean coach remains optimistic, believing that these two matches provided valuable experience that will help the players improve their physical condition, mental toughness, and tactical approach ahead of the AFF Cup 2024 later this year.
Similar to his response after the Russia game, Coach Kim once again apologized to the fans for not being able to secure a victory in the Thailand match.
Entering the match with different objectives, both Vietnam and Thailand appeared to be feeling each other out during the early stages. The visiting team held slightly more possession and pushed their lineup forward, but they were unable to trouble Vietnam’s defense in the first 20 minutes, with neither side creating any significant chances.
In the 21st minute, Vietnam unexpectedly took the lead thanks to Nguyen Tien Linh, who battled through tight marking to finish a powerful effort inside the box. However, Thailand quickly equalized just five minutes later when Ekanit Panya delivered a well-placed cross to Patrik Gustavsson, who headed the ball across the goal to set up Suphanat Mueanta for an easy close-range finish to level the score at 1-1.
Thailand then took the lead in the 40th minute due to a defensive error by Nguyen Phong Hong Duy. His failed clearance inadvertently turned into an assist for Gustavsson, who saw his initial shot saved by goalkeeper Filip Nguyen but made no mistake on the rebound to give Thailand a 2-1 advantage before halftime.
Vietnam came out strong in the second half, increasing their attacking efforts and creating several chances. However, they were unable to capitalize on opportunities, with key misses coming from Phan Van Duc, Hong Duy, and a powerful long-range strike from Nguyen Hoang Duc that rattled the crossbar.
Reflecting on the game, Coach Kim explained that the team had followed the instructions given by the coaching staff but noted that there were many unpredictable situations due to the lack of information about the opponent. Thailand’s scheduled match against Russia on September 7 had been canceled due to Typhoon Yagi, leaving Vietnam with limited data on their opponent’s recent form.
In addition to tactical issues, Kim pointed to the physical condition of the Vietnamese players as a key reason for the defeat. “In the June training camp, the players had just finished the V-League season and were in peak physical shape, able to play a full 90 minutes. But currently, they are not at their best,” Kim remarked, adding that the players need to continue improving their fitness to be on par with Thailand, especially in terms of physicality.
The loss to Thailand means that Vietnam has now concluded their September friendlies with two consecutive defeats. The team will have a chance to regroup and improve in their upcoming friendlies in October, where they will face India and Lebanon. These matches will serve as vital preparation for the highly anticipated AFF Cup, which kicks off in December 2024.
Despite the loss, Coach Kim remains hopeful that the lessons learned from these matches will contribute to the team’s development as they continue to strive for better results in the upcoming competitions. The coach, along with the players, will look to sharpen their tactics, enhance their fitness, and build a stronger team for the challenges ahead.
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