Park Hang-seo’s (64) Vietnam national team coach’s ‘Last Dance’ is heading for a happy ending.
Vietnam defeated Indonesia 2-0 under coach Shin Tae-yong (53) in the second leg of the 2022 Southeast Asian Football Federation (AFF) Mitsubishi Cup semifinals held at My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi, Vietnam on the 9th (Korean time). Vietnam advanced to the final with a combined score of 2-0 in the first and second games.
Vietnam, which failed to win in the previous game, showed a strong side in the home room. Vietnam, who took the lead with Nguyen Tien Linh’s goal in the third minute of the game, repeatedly created threatening scenes. In the 2nd minute of the second half, Thien Linh’s header scored a comfortable 2-point victory.
According to Vietnamese media Tuoi Tre, coach Park Hang-seo said after the match, “Vietnam has not won against Indonesia in the AFF Cup for 26 years. I had to break the jinx for future juniors. The team’s efforts made it to the finals. I am proud of the team,” he laughed.
This confrontation attracted attention as a resourceful confrontation between Korean chiefs. Manager Park Hang-seo and manager Shin Tae-yong did not shake hands in the first leg of the semi-finals, which became a hot topic. Even in the interview, a war of nerves came and went, such as sniping at each other. After the first game, coach Shin posted on SNS (social media) asking for fair play between the referee and the Vietnamese player.
Manager Park Hang-seo said, “Both coach Shin Tae-yong and I focused on the game,” and “I don’t use social media, so I don’t know how to evaluate it. Such provocations are not desirable. Now I have to go back to my daily life,” he said.
Coach Shin Tae-yong, who unfortunately slipped with the finals in front, said, “I think Vietnam played a good game. Congrats on continuing to keep scoreless.”
Now coach Park Hang-seo’s eyes are on the final. Coach Park, who became the Vietnam command tower in October 2017, puts down the baton after this tournament. Coach Park and the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) agreed not to extend the contract after January 31, 2023, when the contract expired in October.
Dreaming of ‘the beauty of the end’. After Vietnam reached the top of the competition for the first time in 2008, it enjoyed the joy of winning with coach Park Hang-seo in 2018, 10 years later. Coach Park expects a beautiful exit by giving Vietnam its third championship in history. 안전놀이터
Manager Park Hang-seo said, “The players have improved a lot over the past five years. I am an ordinary manager, but I did my best,” he recalled. “I will work with the players to win the game with the spirit of Vietnam, and I will try to repay the love of football fans.”
Coach Park Hang-seo, who is revered as a “Vietnamese hero,” won the 2018 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Under-23 (U-23) Championship runner-up, 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games quarterfinals, and the first Suzuki Cup (now Mitsubishi Cup) in 10 years during his tenure. He left a dazzling mark by winning the championship and advancing to the quarterfinals of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup.
Vietnam has transformed into one of the highest-level teams in Southeast Asia. The performance is revealed in this competition. Vietnam is running undefeated in 6 matches (4 wins, 2 draws), including 4 matches in the Mitsubishi Cup group stage. They did not concede a single goal until the final stage.