The Vietnam national football team concluded its training camp in South Korea with a perfect record, defeating K League 1's Gangwon FC 2-1 in their final friendly match. Coach Kim Sang-sik evaluated the performance of key players and the potential of substitutes, effectively wrapping up the experimental phase ahead of the ASEAN Cup.
On July 13, local reports indicated that the Vietnam team secured victory against Gangwon FC in Incheon. Previously, they had also triumphed over K League 3's Siheung FC and K League 2's Yongin FC, finishing the training camp with three consecutive wins.
The match against Gangwon FC was particularly noteworthy as it featured a higher caliber of opponent compared to the previous two games. Coach Kim deployed several key players in the starting lineup to assess the squad and refine tactical strategies ahead of the ASEAN Cup. Vietnam started aggressively, with Nguyen Suan Son attempting a shot in the fifth minute after a quick counterattack, though it went over the crossbar. Nguyen Hoang Duc and Do Hoang Hien also aimed for the Gangwon goal with long-range efforts.
Vietnam Stays Composed After Early Setback
Vietnam conceded a penalty in the 14th minute, allowing Gangwon FC to take a 1-0 lead. However, the team maintained its attacking momentum. In the 21st minute, Nguyen Quang Hai made a skillful shot that hit the crossbar.
The equalizer came in the 28th minute when Nguyen Tai Loc delivered an accurate cross, which Nguyen Suan Son finished to level the score. Coach Kim kept most of the starting lineup intact until early in the second half before gradually substituting in the remaining players. Local media noted that this process was not merely a friendly but a crucial final test to conclude the training camp.
In the 62nd minute, Nguyen Ngoc Minh attempted a curling shot with his right foot, but it was saved by the Gangwon goalkeeper. Three minutes later, Vietnam scored the winning goal. A breakthrough on the right flank led to a pass to Pham Gia Hung in the penalty area, who finished accurately to secure a 2-1 victory for Vietnam.
Transitioning from Experimentation to ASEAN Cup Preparation
Throughout the training camp in South Korea, the Vietnam team faced progressively stronger opponents. Coach Kim assessed the players' ability to regain match rhythm after intense training, control the game, and adapt after conceding a goal. Local outlets suggested that while the training camp was a process of finding solutions, the upcoming match against Myanmar would serve as a final check before the main event. Coach Kim reportedly gathered valuable data on positional evaluations and tactical operations during this training period.
After returning to Hanoi, the Vietnam team will travel to Thai Nguyen on July 17 to play an international friendly against Myanmar on July 18. The training camp in South Korea achieved dual objectives of results and assessments. The three consecutive victories boosted the players' confidence, and the comeback win against Gangwon FC provided Coach Kim with critical insights for final preparations ahead of the ASEAN Cup.
Following the training camp, the Vietnam team will shift from extensive experimentation to enhancing their overall performance. Coach Kim Sang-sik's next challenge will be to finalize preparations to defend their title as Southeast Asian champions in the ASEAN Cup.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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