Binh Duong – Vietnam’s national football team resumed training to prepare for their Asian Cup 2027 qualifier against Laos on March 25, with goalkeeper Dinh Trieu candidly addressing defensive lapses from their recent 2-1 friendly win over Cambodia. Despite the victory, Coach Kim Sang-sik’s squad underperformed, prompting a critical review. Dinh Trieu’s analysis of Cambodia’s goal highlighted areas for improvement as Vietnam aims to sharpen up for the upcoming match at Go Dau Stadium.
Reflecting on the conceded goal in the 64th minute against Cambodia, Dinh Trieu identified two key issues. “First, it was my positioning as goalkeeper—I started well but didn’t retreat to cover the angle effectively when they won the ball high up,” he said. “Second, our backline didn’t press the shooter enough. Coach Kim has broken it down for us, and we’re working to avoid repeats.” Samuel’s fierce strike had exposed these weaknesses, a moment the team is determined to learn from.
Post-Cambodia, Kim Sang-sik and his staff held a meeting to dissect the friendly’s shortcomings. “We’ve recognized our mistakes and are addressing them,” Dinh Trieu added. “The focus now is refining our play for Laos.” The narrow win, secured by Hai Long and Van Vi’s first-half goals, revealed a second-half dip that the squad aims to correct. With Laos looming, the goalkeeper stressed collective responsibility: “It’s on all of us—defenders and me—to tighten up.”
Laos, Vietnam’s next opponents, recently fell 2-1 to Sri Lanka in a friendly, offering clues to their form. Dinh Trieu noted the coaching staff’s preparations: “We don’t know much about Laos’ current players yet, but we’ve been told they have three new naturalized additions since the ASEAN Cup. We’re training hard and studying them to neutralize their strengths.” At the 2024 ASEAN Cup, Vietnam trounced Laos 4-1 away in their opener, a result that boosts confidence but doesn’t breed complacency.
The 7:30 p.m. clash on March 25 kicks off Vietnam’s Group F campaign, alongside Malaysia and Nepal. After Kim Sang-sik’s lukewarm reaction to the Cambodia performance, Dinh Trieu and his teammates know a polished showing is essential. “We’ve got the tools to dominate,” he said. “It’s about executing.” Fans expect a cleaner victory this time, with the goalkeeper’s resolve signaling a backline ready to redeem itself.
Leave a Reply