Kim expects Vietnam’s win over Philippines, early ASEAN Cup semi-final ticket

Vietnamese players are scheduled to take on their hosts Philippines in an away match at 8 p.m. on December 18.

“The team have maintained an unbeaten record in the group stage, and we aim to continue this winning streak in the upcoming match to secure an early spot in the semi-finals. Despite the challenging schedule, we have prepared well and are ready now for tomorrow’s game,” said Kim at a press briefing in the Philippines.

Vietnam beat Laos 4-1 in their opener and Indonesia 1-0 in a dramatic match on December 15. The December 18 clash with the Philippines will be challenging for Kim following Vietnam’s 3-2 win over their opponents in his debut match last June.

“At this moment, we are now a team strong in both physical fitness and tactics,” affirmed the Korean manager.

Vietnam have won all five of their most recent encounters with the Philippines, scoring 12 goals and conceding 5. Notably, at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila, Nguyen Quang Hai and his teammates have triumphed in both of their last two away matches.

However, the upcoming challenge for Vietnam lies in adapting to the artificial turf in Manila. With limited preparation time for the match, adjusting to the new field presents a significant hurdle for Kim and his players.

“Some Vietnamese players have acquired experience playing on this turf. In Korea, we also train on artificial turf. In addition, the coaching staff have prepared specific strategies and reminded the players to perform at their best,” said the coach.

“The Philippines are a strong team, and we truly have to fight hard for tomorrow’s match. Although Vietnam only won 1-0 against Indonesia, we are very satisfied with that result and remain fully confident for the showdown with the Philippines,” remarked Kim.

Vietnam now top Group B with six points after two winning matches. After their encounter with the Philippines, they will have another group match against Myanmar.