Head coach Hoang Anh Tuan’s tactical switch in the second half of their recent game against Malaysia enabled Vietnam to clinch all three points in their game on April 20, according to the AFC.

Having taken the lead through a superb Khuat Van Khang freekick in the 39th minute, coach Tuan then opted for his side to play on the counterattack in the second half.

This change worked a treat with their second goal coming from a quick move starting from their own penalty box, ultimately ending with Bui Vi Hao being taken down in the box and Vo Hoang Minh Khoa netting from the spot, the AFC wrote on its website.

The 2-0 success, coupled with Uzbekistan’s 5-0 win over Kuwait later that day, confirmed Vietnam as achieving a top two finish in Group D and a place in the quarterfinals.

Moving forward, Vietnam will take on Uzbekistan on April 23 to decide the Group D winners, while Malaysia and Kuwait will square off looking to end their campaign on a high. Previously, Vietnam’s U23s finished second in 2018 and entered the quarterfinals in 2022.

Tuan was officially announced as head coach of the Vietnamese U23 men’s national team at a ceremony held on April 4 in Hanoi.

He has previously been in charge of selecting and coaching national youth teams under a contract signed with the VFF back in 2022, leading the U20 Vietnam squad through the qualifying round to the 2023 AFC U20 Asian Cup finals in Uzbekistan in May, 2023.

Last August, he led Vietnam’s U23 side to victory at the 2023 Southeast Asian U23 Championship for the second time in Thailand.

Under Tuan’s tutelage, Vietnam’s U19 team made the top four of the 2016 AFC U-19 Championship, alongside the likes of Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Saudi Arabia. In addition, they also represented Asia at the 2017 FIFA U20 World Cup finals.

VOV