Indian national team coach Manolo Marquez praised his players and also commended the Vietnamese team following the 1-1 draw between the two sides at Thien Truong Stadium on the evening of October 12.
In this match, Bui Vi Hao opened the scoring for Vietnam in the first half with a powerful volley. In the second half, Farukh Choudhary equalized for India with a clever chip over goalkeeper Nguyen Filip.
During the post-match press conference, Marquez expressed his satisfaction with his team’s performance: “This was a difficult match. Vietnam played better in the first half, and the second half was more in our favor. We had the opportunity to score a second goal but couldn’t capitalize on it.
“Vietnam dominated the first half, so I spoke with my players during the break. I told them that we had opportunities and needed to attack more, moving the ball to both wings. In reality, we did manage to do that. However, Vietnam regained control of the game, and we couldn’t find the second goal. Overall, I’m pleased with my players. This was a friendly match, and we also experimented with new players.”
Marquez also praised several Vietnamese players: “You have some interesting players like Vi Hao and many other good players whose names I can’t recall. They are faster than our players. Your captain, number 3 (Que Ngoc Hai), also played very well.”
The two players Marquez highlighted indeed made an impact. Vi Hao not only won a penalty for Vietnam but also scored the opening goal. Meanwhile, Que Ngoc Hai, despite missing a penalty, contributed significantly in defense, making key interceptions and delivering accurate long passes that created attacking opportunities for his team. Unfortunately for coach Kim Sang-sik and his players, they had to settle for a draw.
The match was a valuable test for both teams, allowing them to assess their strengths and weaknesses as they continue preparing for upcoming competitions. While Vietnam started strong, India’s resilience in the second half made for an exciting and evenly matched contest.
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