The Vietnam national football team achieved a resounding 6-0 victory over Siheung FC in their first training match during their visit to South Korea. Coach Kim Sang-sik utilized different lineups in each half to assess player adaptation and tactical strategies. However, some Vietnamese football fans questioned the significance of the win, given that the opponent is a team from South Korea's third division.
According to the Vietnam Football Federation, the match took place on July 5 in Incheon, South Korea, where Vietnam opened the scoring just two minutes into the game with a goal from Nguyen Tran Viet Cuong. Hai Long and Do Hoang Hen each scored two goals, while Nguyen Dinh Bac added a late goal in the second half.
Coach Kim viewed this match as the first evaluation of their training camp in Korea. Siheung FC currently competes in K League 3, and the Vietnam team plans to gradually increase the intensity of their matches against higher-level opponents. Outside the stadium, Vietnamese fans showed their support by waving flags.
Vietnam maintained their attacking momentum throughout the first half. In the 31st minute, Hai Long scored a calm finish for an additional goal. Shortly after, in the 38th minute, he netted his second goal with an assist from Viet Cuong.
In the second half, the lineup changed as Coach Kim introduced naturalized goalkeeper Patrick Rejiang, along with naturalized players Nguyen Suan Son, Nguyen Thai Loc, and Do Hoang Hen. With the addition of forward Nguyen Dinh Bac, Vietnam continued to dominate the match.
Hoang Hen showcased his scoring ability early in the second half, netting a goal in the 48th minute to extend the lead to 4-0. Four minutes later, Suan Son made a quick run and delivered an accurate pass to Hoang Hen, who scored again, making it 5-0. Despite the large score margin, Vietnam did not relent, and in the 83rd minute, Dinh Bac scored to finalize the 6-0 victory.
Reactions among Vietnamese football fans were mixed. One user commented, “Winning against a third division team is not something to brag about.” Another remarked, “It seems they had to come to Korea to play a third division team due to the World Cup period.” A fan expressed curiosity about whether Coach Kim viewed the national team as being at the same level as a K League 3 team.
Following this match, Vietnam will face Yongin FC and Gangwon FC in succession. Yongin FC is a K League 2 team, while Gangwon FC competes in K League 1. Coach Kim aims to elevate the level of competition to enhance the players' match experience and combinations. The national team will return home on July 14 and will play a friendly match against Myanmar four days later at Thai Nguyen Stadium. After this match, Coach Kim will finalize the roster for the 2026 ASEAN Cup.
Meanwhile, the 2026 ASEAN Cup is scheduled to take place from July 24 to August 8. Vietnam has been drawn into Group A alongside Indonesia, Cambodia, Singapore, and Timor-Leste. The team will kick off their title defense on July 24 with an away match against Timor-Leste in Malaysia.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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