The final first leg of AFF Cup 2022 between Vietnam and Thailand taking place at My Dinh Stadium of Vietnam at 7:30pm on January 13 promises to be an exciting clash between the two sides of comparable quality.
The final first leg of AFF Cup 2022 between Vietnam and Thailand taking place at My Dinh Stadium of Vietnam at 7:30pm on January 13 promises to be an exciting clash between the two sides of comparable quality.
Coach Park Hang Seo of Vietnam expressed his confidence in the upcoming match with Thailand at a pre-match press conference on January 12. According to coach Park, after the draw of AFF Cup 2022, he and his players had talks and set themselves a target of reaching the finals. They have now completed their target and are very determined to avenge their 0-2 defeat in the AFF Cup 2020 semi-finals and win the 2023 championship. This will not be easy to win such a tough opponent like Thailand.
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Vietnam have made a record in AFF Cup 2023 with 14 goals and no conceded goals. This achievement helps coach Park Hang Seo be confident in a win against Thailand in the final first leg at home ground. Thailand have scored the most goals in this year’s tournament so far. Coach Park highly appreciates the attacking line of Thailand, but he also believes in the competence of Vietnam.
Vietnam have more advantages than Thailand in the final first leg. They play at home ground and have more days off. However, the pressure for them is also enormous. If Vietnam win this match and protect their clean sheet, it will be relatively easier for them to plan for the second leg. If not, Vietnam will face many difficulties playing against the hosts Thailand three days after that. In AFF Cup 2022, Thailand have proved very strong at home ground, especially in the 3-0 win against Malaysia in the semi-final return leg. Although Thailand enter this year’s AFF Cup without some key players, they still have quality faces namely Theerathon Bunmathan, Sarach Yooyen, Peeradol, Teerasil Dangda, etc. This is really a big challenge for the back and midfield lines of Vietnam to prevent the attacks and make the opponents disjointed.
Vietnamese players have showed their progress in the recent matches. Van Lam is still proving that he is a reliable goalkeeper. Van Hau and Hung Dung have contributed well in preventing the attacks from the opposing teams and helped Vietnam play more proactively. Tuan Hai and Tien Linh are the two forwards who are expected to break through the defense of Thailand.
An Nhien
Translated by H.N
