How did the Vietnam national team perform in the first half of the match against Nepal that prompted coach Kim Sang Sik to speak out?

15/10/2025 12:02:00 ceshi

The 1-0 win over Nepal at Thong Nhat Stadium revealed Vietnam’s struggle with inefficient finishing, especially in the first half, prompting coach Kim Sang Sik to address the issue.

Vietnam national team and the lesson on making the most of opportunities

Vietnam started strongly, dominating possession at 62% (per Sofascore) and controlling the game against Nepal—ranked 62 places lower on FIFA’s list (Vietnam 114, Nepal 176). The only goal came early in the 4th minute from a corner by Truong Tien Anh, when defender Nguyen Hieu Minh’s header pressured Nepal’s Suman Shrestha into scoring an own goal.

However, Vietnam missed at least four clear chances, taking seven shots (three on target), including three that struck the woodwork (Nguyen Tien Linh at 11’, Nguyen Thanh Nhan at 30’, Truong Tien Anh at 42’). Attempts by Tien Anh and Nguyen Duc Chien in one-on-one situations also failed to score, highlighting the ongoing issue with sharpness in finishing—an issue that persisted since the first leg (3-1, 24 shots but only 3 goals).

Vietnam’s forwards endured a frustrating first half with numerous missed opportunities. Photo by Pham Tuan

Coach Kim Sang-sik commented: “The players had home advantage but were somewhat rushed in their play, which stopped us from breaking Nepal’s defense on our own. The slippery pitch from heavy rain affected our style, but the team must be better at taking chances.” He expressed disappointment that main striker Nguyen Tien Linh didn’t score and hopes the Cong An TP.HCM forward regains form for the November 19, 2025 match against Laos. Kim also stressed: “After the first leg, we practiced many finishing tactics, but the players need to improve their ability to convert chances in the attacking third.”

Vietnam’s defense held firm, conceding only one notable chance in the 2nd minute when Do Duy Manh slipped on the wet field, allowing Manish Dangi to break through. Luckily, a puddle disrupted the shot, and young goalkeeper Tran Trung Kien kept a clean sheet.

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