Vietnamnet.vn
Podcast
Both players drew praise from the opposing coach, while Kim Sang Sik credited teamwork and tactical preparation.
Vietnam took control of their opening match against Chinese Taipei at Thien Truong Stadium on November 11, with head coach Kim Sang Sik fielding a lineup featuring several new faces as part of preparations for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.
Despite the absence of established players such as Quang Hai, Hoang Duc and Van Hau, the hosts gradually asserted their superiority against opponents ranked 77 places below them in the FIFA rankings.
After a relatively quiet opening, Vietnam broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute. Olaha Manh Duc released Hong Phuc down the right flank before racing into the penalty area to meet the return cross with a close-range finish, marking his national team debut with a goal.
Chinese Taipei nearly responded two minutes later, but goalkeeper Patrik Le Giang produced a timely save to deny Benchy inside the penalty area.
Vietnam continued to dominate possession and created further chances. Minh Phuc narrowly missed the target in the 26th minute, while Dinh Bac saw an effort blocked after Chinese Taipei goalkeeper Huang Chiu Lin failed to clear the ball effectively.
The hosts went into halftime with a 1-0 advantage.
Kim made three changes at the interval, introducing Khuat Van Khang, Vinh Nguyen and Viet Cuong in place of Minh Phuc, Minh Khoa and Ngoc Son.
The substitutions helped Vietnam maintain their attacking momentum, and Dinh Bac doubled the lead in the 58th minute with the standout moment of the match.
Receiving a pass from Van Khang on the left, the young forward drove past defenders before curling a powerful right-footed shot into the far top corner. Goalkeeper Huang Chiu Lin managed to get a hand to the ball but could not prevent it from finding the net.
Chinese Taipei attempted to respond in the closing stages, but their attacks rarely troubled Patrik Le Giang. Vietnam comfortably protected their two-goal advantage to secure a winning start to the tournament.
Chinese Taipei coach impressed by Dinh Bac and Vietnam's attacking play
Following the defeat, Chinese Taipei head coach Matthew Ross congratulated Vietnam and acknowledged that the scoreline did not fully reflect the hosts' superiority.
"Congratulations to Vietnam on the victory. However, I don't think the scoreline fully reflects their strength. They controlled possession and dictated the game well," Ross said.
He explained that the match was only Chinese Taipei's second international fixture of 2026 and that he had given opportunities to several young players.
Ross was particularly impressed by Vietnam's tactical discipline and the understanding among their attacking players.
"Vietnam's playing style remains the same despite having many new faces. They are patient in possession, and their three attacking players know how to position themselves and time their movements," he said.
He described Vietnam as a well-coached team whose players maintain their positions effectively, adding that his side had learned valuable lessons from the encounter.
Looking further ahead, Ross said he was eager to watch Vietnam compete at the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, believing the tournament's postponement by nearly a year could give the team more time to prepare.
The Chinese Taipei coach reserved special praise for Dinh Bac, whose individual brilliance produced Vietnam's second goal.
"I knew how good Dinh Bac was, but I didn't want to say anything before the match in case it made him too excited. He is a very good player, technically gifted and intelligent," Ross said.
He highlighted the forward's ability to choose the right moments to move, pull opposing center-backs out of position and create space for his teammates.
Ross was equally complimentary about Olaha Manh Duc, whose movement and attacking versatility gave Vietnam additional options.
"Olaha offers Vietnam more variety. He is very good on the ball and knows how to exploit space. He is also effective without the ball," Ross said.
The coach explained that Chinese Taipei had to drop deeper in the second half, organizing two defensive lines and adding greater defensive depth to cope with Vietnam's attacking threats.
Kim Sang Sik reveals tactical instructions behind Dinh Bac's goal
Vietnam head coach Kim Sang Sik expressed satisfaction with the victory but acknowledged that his team still had areas to improve.
"I want to thank the players for giving their best and securing the win. I also appreciate the supporters who came to the stadium despite the cold weather," Kim said.
He noted that the national team had undergone considerable changes during the current training camp, leaving the coaching staff with limited time to develop tactical understanding among the players.
"We faced some tactical difficulties because our preparation time was short, but the players performed well. With about a week to prepare for the next match, I believe we can deliver a more convincing performance," he said.
Kim admitted that Vietnam had experienced both positive and disappointing periods during the match. The coaching staff will review the footage to identify areas requiring improvement.
The South Korean coach also emphasized the importance of integrating different generations of players and encouraging healthy competition within the squad.
"We are trying to bring the players together and balance the different generations so the team can develop steadily. Healthy competition between individuals will make the national team stronger," he explained.
Among the individual performances, Kim singled out Olaha for scoring on his international debut, Thanh Chung for captaining the national team for the first time and organizing the defense effectively, and Quoc Cuong for fulfilling his responsibilities.
The coach also explained why Olaha had adapted quickly despite being a newcomer.
"Players with foreign backgrounds understand Vietnamese culture very well because they have lived and played here for a long time. When they join the national team, they adapt quickly," Kim said. "My philosophy is not built around one star player. It is about bringing the whole team together to achieve the best possible result."
Turning to Dinh Bac's spectacular second-half goal, Kim revealed that the finish reflected instructions repeatedly emphasized during tactical training sessions.
"In attacking drills, I often tell the players that when they approach the opposition's penalty area, they should try to beat defenders in one-on-one situations, make quick decisions and shoot rather than dribble too much," he said. "Dinh Bac did exactly that."
Kim also addressed his decision to retain Patrik Le Giang in goal despite the tournament providing an opportunity to experiment with different players.
He explained that the choice followed consultations with the goalkeeping coach and reflected the coaching staff's confidence in Le Giang, who had held the position for some time.
"For a goalkeeper, trust and a sense of security are very important. Once we trust someone, we continue giving him opportunities," Kim said.
However, he confirmed that other goalkeepers would also receive opportunities, with Trung Kien and Van Viet expected to feature in the next match.
Vietnam will face Kyrgyzstan on November 17 in their final Casper Cup 2026 fixture, giving Kim and his coaching staff another opportunity to assess the squad ahead of future international competitions.
Thien Binh - Dai Nam
.svg){kind=icon}
