Nguyen Tien Linh: Laos team has made remarkable progress

" This is the first match and the whole team has made an effort. The Laos team has clearly improved in their playing style. They had a good first half at home. In the second half, the Vietnam team controlled the game well and scored. If the Laos team can maintain their spirit, they will go far in the future," Nguyen Tien Linh told the media after the match where the Vietnamese team won against Laos.

Against the opponent considered the weakest in the group, the Vietnamese team entered the match with the expectation of a big win. However, the away team encountered numerous difficulties against the defensive wall that the home team built during the first 45 minutes. Nguyen Tien Linh himself only had one dangerous shot but the Lao goalkeeper made an excellent save. The Vietnamese team entered the break without a goal.

Vietnam 4-1 Laos.

In the second half, coach Kim Sang-sik asked his players to push up their attacking formation. Great pressure and good passes from the central defenders helped the Vietnamese team open the score. In the 58th minute, from a long pass from Bui Tien Dung, Hai Long broke through and powerfully finished to open the score. In the following period, Vietnam scored 3 more goals and Laos had an honorary goal from Bounphachan Bounkong. Tien Linh contributed 1 goal.

In the second match, the Vietnamese team will have a day off. In the third match, coach Kim Sang-sik and his team will meet their strongest opponent, Indonesia, at home on November 15. The match will take place in Phu Tho. The Vietnamese team has a big advantage over Indonesia thanks to having many days off and not having to travel far.

Nguyen Tien Linh commented: " We will do better against Indonesia in the next match. The match against Indonesia is the most important match of the group stage, deciding the top position in Group B. We will rest and prepare best for the match against Indonesia at home ."

After the first round, the Vietnamese team leads Group B with 3 points and a goal difference of +3. The Indonesian team beat Myanmar 1-0 and ranked second in the group.