U22 Vietnam demonstrated resilience and tactical mastery
U22 Vietnam achieved their objective of reaching the SEA Games 33 final thanks to the resilience of the players and the strong tactical imprint left by coach Kim Sang Sik. It was a demanding semifinal, and U22 Vietnam had to wait for two shining moments from strategic players to advance to the final.
U22 Vietnam was rated higher, and the match events showed that coach Kim Sang Sik’s squad was clearly dominant. Dinh Bac and teammates patiently passed and combined to unsettle U22 Philippines, who had planned to defend deeply.
However, chances were squandered by Viktor Le and Xuan Bac. If they had been more accurate in finishing, these players could have allowed U22 Vietnam to celebrate earlier and made the game easier. Credit is also due to U22 Philippines’ fighting will, with striker Mariona dropping back to make several good blocks to protect their goal.
In the second half, the situation became even more challenging for U22 Vietnam. U22 Philippines made coach Kim Sang Sik visibly anxious by confidently controlling the ball and organizing smooth attacks, causing his players to receive yellow cards for tactical fouls.
In this match, key attackers like Van Khang and Viktor Le were not at their best, prompting coach Kim Sang Sik to consider other options. Notably, the Korean coach had not used Ngoc My, Quoc Viet, or Cong Phuong in recent games, indicating problems in U22 Vietnam’s attack.
Nevertheless, as in many previous matches, Kim Sang Sik’s ability to read the game and make substitutions created decisive differences. As the match neared its end and extra time seemed likely, Kim Sang Sik brought on two strategic players: Van Thuan and Thanh Nhan.
This moment best showcased his coaching influence. Van Thuan, usually a central midfielder, was pushed forward to play as a winger replacing Van Khang and unexpectedly became a highly effective attacking spearhead. In the 89th minute, from a precise cross by Phi Hoang, Van Thuan leapt to head the ball, scoring the opening goal 1-0 to the ecstatic delight of Vietnamese fans.
U22 Vietnam’s victory over U22 Philippines was hard-earned but fully deserved. Photo: Tuan Pham
Before U22 Philippines could settle, they suffered another decisive blow. At 90+2 minutes, another substitution by coach Kim Sang Sik, Thanh Nhan, earned a free kick near the 16.5-meter box and successfully converted it himself.
Thanh Nhan broke his bad luck at this SEA Games after performing very well in V-League but struggling in Thailand until the semifinal. However, as long as coach Kim Sang Sik patiently gave him opportunities, Thanh Nhan exceeded his coach’s expectations.
Goalkeeper Guimares, despite an excellent performance, made a mistake that allowed U22 Vietnam to seal the 2-0 win. Two goals, two substitutes, both on U22 Vietnam’s strongest attacking left flank — this symbolizes the tactical victory led by coach Kim Sang Sik in this match.
By defeating U22 Philippines, U22 Vietnam officially qualified for the finalof SEA Games 33, marking the third time in the last four SEA Games that the team reached the final match.
After the disappointment of SEA Games 32 when they failed to reach the final, this result signifies the strong resurgence of Vietnamese youth football under coach Kim Sang Sik’s reign. It is the outcome of steadfast tactics, trust in squad depth, and resilience in adversity.
U22 Vietnam has matured after competing continuously in many tournaments. Beating a lesser opponent like U22 Philippines was not a flawless display but served as a crucial test of mentality and determination.
This achievement is well deserved and shows that U22 Vietnam’s squad depth and strength rank among the bestat SEA Games 33. Ahead lies one more match and a complete finale waiting for coach Kim Sang Sik’s team to conquer.
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