South Korea, 5 July 2026 – Vietnam played their first friendly match of the Incheon training camp on July 5, facing Siheung FC, a club currently competing in K League 3. The match served as the first test for head coach Kim Sang Sik and his squad ahead of the 2026 ASEAN Cup.
As part of his squad assessment plan, Kim Sang Sik used two different lineups, with each group playing one half. Notably, naturalized players Nguyen Xuan Son, Do Hoang Hen, and Nguyen Tai Loc featured in the second half alongside several key players.
The match began in difficult weather conditions as heavy rain arrived shortly after kick-off and lasted for around 15 minutes. However, it did not disrupt Vietnam’s tactical plan.
Vietnam took the lead in the second minute when Viet Cuong curled a beautiful right-footed shot into the top corner. The team continued to create fluid attacking moves, and in the 31st minute, Hai Long doubled the advantage with a composed finish after a well-worked buildup. Eight minutes later, Hai Long completed his brace from close range following an assist from Viet Cuong, giving Vietnam a 3-0 lead at half-time.
Kim Sang Sik changed the entire lineup after the break to continue evaluating his players. The new combinations quickly made an impact. In the 48th minute, Do Hoang Hen scored inside the box to make it 4-0. Just four minutes later, Nguyen Xuan Son broke forward and set up Hoang Hen to complete his double, extending Vietnam’s lead to 5-0.
Vietnam maintained pressure throughout the rest of the match. Dinh Bac hit the post in the 61st minute, while Truong Tien Anh and Nguyen Van Vi also created several promising chances. In the 83rd minute, Dinh Bac sprinted past his marker before finishing accurately to seal a convincing 6-0 victory.
Beyond the result, the match gave the coaching staff valuable insight into the team’s structure, tactical execution, and the integration of new players, especially the naturalized group, before the next friendly.
Vietnam will continue training in Incheon before facing Yongin FC of K League 2 on July 8. That match is expected to provide a tougher test as Kim Sang Sik continues refining his plans for the 2026 ASEAN Cup.
VSN/RPT
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