Vietnam U.22 team still plays well despite the absence of Bui Vi Hao

According to our research, Bui Vi Hao was diagnosed with a torn ankle ligament and will have to undergo surgery this week. It is expected that he will need about 6-8 months to fully recover. This is a loss for the U.22 Vietnam team. However, if we look at what the young "Golden Star Warriors" showed at the CFA China Team 2025 in China, we will feel more secure. In a tournament where the brightest stars of the U.22 Vietnam generation were absent due to being busy serving the national team, the remaining players under the guidance of acting head coach Dinh Hong Vinh played extremely impressively.

Van Khang (left) and Van Truong are capable of taking charge of the attack when Vi Hao is absent.

PHOTO: D.NK

In the match between The Cong Viettel Club and HAGL in the quarter-finals of the National Cup, central defender Ly Duc, who is considered to be able to become the leader of the U.22 Vietnam team's defense at the 33rd SEA Games, was injured after a tackle. Fortunately, the HAGL player only suffered a ligament sprain, did not need surgery and will need about 1 month to return to the field.

Notably, the attacking trio of Viktor Le (Ha Tinh Club), Quoc Viet (Ninh Binh Club) and Thanh Nhan (PVF-CAND Club) all played well. Quoc Viet and Thanh Nhan scored goals against strong teams such as U.22 China and South Korea. Meanwhile, Viktor Le left an assist and a series of impressive breakthroughs. More importantly, the Vietnamese-American player always plays extremely aggressively, actively competes in one-on-one battles, and effectively supports defense from a distance. These are also the qualities that coach Kim Sang-sik always highly appreciates in Vi Hao. One more thing, all three of these players are playing regularly at the club level.

Who can replace Bui Vi Hao?

The U.22 Vietnam team still has two players who can be added to the attack: Xuan Tien (SLNA) and Van Truong (Hanoi Club). At the 2023 Southeast Asian U.23 Championship, Xuan Tien was once placed as a false striker, played extremely well, helped the U.23 Vietnam team win the championship and he also won the Golden Boot title. Recently, he scored to help the Nghe An team overcome Dong Thap Club to win a ticket to the semi-finals of the National Cup. Similar to Xuan Tien, Van Truong is a central midfielder, but can also take on the role of a striker. Thanks to his good physique and ability to handle the ball skillfully in a narrow area, and his finishing is quite good, he was once placed at the top of the attack, especially when we faced opponents who were physically superior. Coach Kim Sang-sik may not prioritize using Xuan Tien and Van Truong in the attack, but in some specific situations or opponents, this option will be effective.

The penetration ability of the U.22 Vietnam team will still be guaranteed. With the appearance of Phi Hoang (Da Nang Club), Van Khang (Viettel The Cong Club) can be freed from the left-back position. With the experience and class of a national player, Van Khang is capable of occupying a position in the "trident" of the U.22 Vietnam team. This season, he has had 4 goals and 3 assists for The Cong Club Viettel in all competitions.

Not to mention that there is still a long time between now and the 2026 AFC U23 Championship qualifiers and the 33rd SEA Games, 5 months and 8 months respectively. Therefore, coach Kim Sang-sik can completely find new players in the V-League as well as the first division to ensure that the U22 Vietnam team's attack is always sharp.

Thanhnien.vn

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/doi-tuyen-u22-viet-nam-van-chay-tot-du-vang-bui-vi-hao-185250401223643887.htm