Coach Kim Sang Sik urges caution despite away victory over Singapore

Vietnam national team secured a 2-0 victory against Singapore in the first leg of the ASEAN Cup 2024 semifinals. Despite the positive result, Coach Kim Sang Sik highlighted areas of concern, urging his players to remain cautious ahead of the return leg.

Facing the hosts, Vietnam encountered significant challenges from Singapore’s direct and physical playstyle. At various points, the visitors were pressed back, with goalkeeper Dinh Trieu having to deal with dangerous situations.

Ultimately, Vietnam emerged victorious thanks to a resilient performance and the tactical brilliance of Nguyen Xuan Son. His ingenuity contributed to key moments, with Tien Linh and Xuan Son scoring the decisive goals in the closing minutes of the match.

Reflecting on his team’s performance, Coach Kim commented:
“Vietnam struggled to adapt to the weather and artificial turf conditions in the first half. We faced many difficulties. In the second half, after making some personnel and tactical adjustments, we played much better.”

He emphasized the importance of focus and effort, stating:
“We won because of the players’ determination and concentration until the very end. However, we must remain vigilant as we prepare for the return leg.”

A controversial moment occurred during the match when Xuan Son appeared to score, but the goal was disallowed by the referee, who ruled that the ball had struck his hand. Xuan Son later asserted that the ball had hit his chest, arguing that the goal should have stood.

Coach Kim acknowledged the incident but stressed the need to respect officiating decisions:
“Although it’s unfortunate that Xuan Son’s goal was disallowed, I believe we need to respect the referee’s decision. Regardless of setbacks, the players stayed determined until the final whistle, which is commendable.”

The Vietnamese squad will return home tomorrow to prepare for the second leg, scheduled for 8:00 PM on December 29 at Viet Tri Stadium in Phu Tho. With the home advantage and a two-goal cushion, Vietnam is in a strong position to secure a spot in the final.