Ho Chi Minh City, 9 October 2025 – After Vietnam’s 3-1 victory over Nepal in the 2027 Asian Cup Qualifiers on October 9, head coach Kim Sang Sik acknowledged that his team’s defensive performance was below expectations, stressing the need for improvement despite securing an important home win.
Vietnam earned a 3-1 victory against Nepal at Go Dau Stadium in their 2027 Asian Cup Qualifier, but head coach Kim Sang Sik admitted afterward that the team’s defense was far from convincing. Although Vietnam took an early lead through Nguyen Tien Linh in the ninth minute, they conceded just eight minutes later from a set piece, and only capitalized on their numerical advantage in the second half to seal the win.
Coach Kim said the equalizer exposed communication problems in Vietnam’s backline. “Defending set pieces remains a weakness for us,” the Korean tactician explained. “In that situation, the defenders needed to be more focused and coordinated. We must work harder in training to handle similar scenarios in future matches.”
Early in the second half, another defensive lapse nearly cost Vietnam when Pham Xuan Manh and goalkeeper Dang Van Lam failed to communicate properly, allowing a Nepal player to break through. Fortunately, the visitors couldn’t convert the chance due to being a man down after Laken Limbu’s red card late in the first half.
Coach Kim also commented on Van Lam’s return to the national team after 13 months. “Before this camp, Van Lam performed well at his new club, Ninh Binh. As for today, it’s difficult to fully evaluate him because Nepal didn’t have many shots on target,” he said.
While the defensive issues were concerning, Vietnam’s attack was also wasteful, converting only three of their 24 attempts. Nevertheless, Kim Sang Sik viewed the result positively. “Scoring three goals is already a success. Of course, if the players had been more clinical, the scoreline could have been more comfortable,” he added.
With Malaysia defeating Laos 3-0 in the other Group F match, Vietnam remain second in the standings. However, Kim Sang Sik said he is not overly concerned about the table at this stage. “We know Malaysia’s result, but our focus is on improving our own performance. We’ll prepare as best as possible to win all three remaining matches, including the decisive home clash against Malaysia,” he emphasized.
Meanwhile, Nepal’s Australian head coach Matthew Ross described his team’s red card late in the first half as the turning point. “I’m proud of my players for equalizing quickly after conceding early. That goal gave us momentum, but at times we were a bit naïve — especially the dribble that led to the red card,” he reflected.
Ross praised his players’ defensive resilience despite being a man down. “Today’s defeat taught us valuable lessons. In the return match, when we have a full squad, we’ll play Vietnam on equal terms,” he asserted confidently.
Vietnam and Nepal will meet again on October 14 at Thong Nhat Stadium in Ho Chi Minh City, where coach Kim Sang Sik’s side will look to tighten their defense and maintain their push toward the 2027 Asian Cup finals.
Thanh Trang – Hong Phuc
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