Under-23 with lessons after Bach Viet Cup

Olympic Vietnam (white) had a good game against Olympic Cameroon despite a 4-1 defeat (Photo: Vnexpress)

The Vietnam under-23 team finished third at the invitational football tournament, Bach Viet Cup, with a victory and two defeats. The tournament has given useful lessons for the hosts, helping them know about their real strength and weaknesses before an important tournament, kicking off later this month, the Asian Games in Doha, Qatar, and other important tournaments in 2007.

Weaknesses

The Vietnamese team exposed weaknesses in two matches against stronger opponents, Olympic Finland and Olympic Cameroon.

In their opening game, the hosts failed to play their football as Olympic Finland produced a tight game, thus reducing the strength of the hosts.

Perhaps, due to a a jetbag, the Finnish players were unable to play with their top form. However, they showed how disciplined and well-organised they were.

Playing a simple football, Olympic Finland showed their mastery in counterattacks. They did not give the hosts’ strikers a small chance, breaking all attacks from two wings by the hosts. When they had an opportunity, they converted it into the winner.

The Vietnamese players exposed their weaknesses in tactics. Playing against European opponents with a better physical form, coach Alfred Riedl’s men made mistakes when they played wide, providing cross for two strikers in the penalty box, instead of playing a direct short passing football. As a result, the hosts’ attacks failed to crack the Finnish defence with two centrebacks excellent in air battling. All crosses from Tan Tai and Quang Thanh from the right flank, Bao Khanh and Van Bien from the left, failed to reach strikers Anh Duc and Cong Vinh.

The hosts had only one opportunity with their wide playing style when a neat cross by Quang Thanh found Anh Duc, but the striker’s heading finish went centimetres wide.

Failing to break the deadlock in attack, the home side showed death gaps in defence. Substitute leftback Minh Thien’s mistake in passing the ball to striker Porokara Roni cost the home side a defeat as the Finnish striker found the net with a curly ball after squaring past centreback Minh Duc.

In their final game against Olympic Cameroon, the home side’s defence continued to make mistakes but in-form goalkeeper Vinh Loi helped the hosts reduce their conceding goals to four.

After two games against opponents from Africa and Europe, it is clear that there is still a large gap in class between Vietnam and countries outside Southeast Asia. Two defeats to strong opponents were not a surprise. They, in turn, helped the home side recognise their weaknesses and gain experience for future international tournaments, especially the 2007 Southeast Asian championship.

Strength

The Vietnamese team showed their quality and a good competing spirit in the second match against Indonesia and Olympic Cameroon. This was the team’s strength at the Bach Viet Cup.

After a 1-0 defeat to Olympic Finland in their opening game, the home side started the clash with their bitter rivals in Southeast Asia, Indonesia, with a great determination. They successfully proved their real ability, outplaying the Indonesians. A goal by Duc Duong and several opportunities missed by striker Cong Vinh and Anh Duc, were a result of good game by coach Riedl’s men.

Surprise came from the like of Duc Duong and Van Bien who were given an opportunity when they came for veterans Hong Minh and Bao Khanh.

The hosts set up a good game, dominating most the time and creating many scoring opportunities. Despite the only goal by Duc Duong, young Vietnamese players restored their confidence and morale, which helped them have a good game against Olympic Cameroon, despite a 4-1 defeat.

A flash goal by Cong Vinh with a sensational touch, lobbing the ball over the advancing goalkeeper of Olympic Cameroon, inspired spectators in the Thong Nhat stadium and the Vietnamese team were the only team in the tournament to find the net of Olympic Cameroon.

They lost in the second half, conceding three goals, as they were outplayed by much stronger opponents.

After the Bach Viet Cup, the Olympic team will compete at the Asian Games in Doha, Qatar, against strong teams from Asia, the Republic of Korea and Bahrain. It is hoped that useful lessons from the Bach Viet Cup will help them gain a good result, especially they will be able to show their quality and good competing spirit.

Ngoc Tuan

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