Vietnam's head coach Park Hang-seo (right) and Indra Sjafri of Indonesia at the press conference ahead the final match of the men’s football category of the SEA Games. (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - The Vietnamese men's U22 football team are one win awayfrom the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games’ title, and headcoach Park Hang-seo said they'll be throwing to kitchen sink at Indonesia insearch of glory.
The final at RizalMemorial Stadium, Manila, will kick off at 7pm on December 10 (Hanoi time).
In the semi-finals on December7, Vietnam beat Cambodia 4-0, while Indonesia defeated Myanmar 4-2 after extratime.
The final will be Vietnam'sfirst in 10 years in a competition Vietnamese fans are still waiting for atitle.
“The whole team are onlyone step from the SEA Games’ gold medal. Fans, training board as well asVietnamese footballers can be proud of what Vietnam did at this year’s event,”said Korean coach Park at a press conference in the Philippines.
“Prime Minister NguyenXuan Phuc also sent a message to encourage and support the team. We will doeverything we can to take gold medal. We will fight with all our hearts,” saidPark.
The veteran coach saideven after his vast international managing experience, this evening's finalwould be a special experience for him.
“I receivedlove from Vietnamese fans so I have a responsibility to win thismatch and take a gold medal,” the 60-year-old coach said.
Park said Indonesia arestrong, but Vietnam won't be afraid.
“Indonesia have a goodline-up. They can turn from defence to attack very well. In the qualifyinground, Indonesia scored 17 goals, mainly from the right wing. They are noteasily beaten. But Vietnam are always up for the challenge. We know what to doto crush Indonesia,” said Park.
The women’s team'svictory over Thailand to take a gold medal on Sunday is also a driving forcefor the men’s team.
Park said he was veryproud and wished both teams would return home with golds.
“The captain of Vietnam’sfemale team, Huynh Như, sent a video to encourage us to play well in the finalwith Indonesia,” said Park.
In the upcoming match,captain and midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai will almost certainly be absentdue to injury. Midfielder Do Hung Dung, who wore the captain's armband in thelatest two matches, is set to skipper the side again.
Indonesia and Vietnamhave already played each other in the group stage of the competition,with the Vietnamese coming from behind to win 2-1.
Coach ofIndonesia Indra Sjafri said his team was excited to have a chance toavenge that Group B defeat.
Sjafri also expressedhis hope that the upcoming final isn’t just a story of winning and losing, butwill promote friendship between the two countries.
Sjafri said with thefans of both sides long craving a gold medal in the competition, the finalshould be a cracking encounter.
“The last time Indonesiatriumphed in the SEA Games was 1991. We have had to wait around 20 years forthe gold. Vietnam also wait for the gold medal for a long time. The two teamsare now very thirsty. I think the upcoming final will be very interesting,”said Sjafri./.
VNA
