Vietnam targets top spot in Group C at Asian Cup qualifiers

ABONDO – Vietnam will play their last Group C match against Jordan as part of the 2019 Asian Cup qualifiers on March 27. Ahead of the away encounter, Vietnamese captain Dinh Thanh Trung demonstrated his determination to join his teammates in the mission to bag the three points in order to finish their qualification campaign atop the group table.

Park Hang-seo (right) and his Vietnamese players are determined for a win against Jordan.

Tonight’s clash is merely a dead rubber, as both Vietnam and Jordan have already booked their places in the finals of next year’s AFC Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Coach Park Hang-seo’s side is now standing second in Group C with nine points, two behind the group leaders, Jordan. Therefore, the “yellow stars” are longing for a victory to snatch the group’s top position from Jordan, and also open up an opportunity for a big leap upwards in the upcoming FIFA men’s world rankings for April.

In preparation for the away clash against Jordan, Park recently called up 13 players from Vietnam’s U23s, who produced a convincing runner-up finish in the recent AFC U23 Championship 2018 in China.

Vietnamese players join in a one-hour training session to get familiar with the King Abdullah II Stadium, where the match will take place.

The Vietnamese team has faced numerous difficulties ahead of the match, as they only had three days of training skills and tactics. Additionally, the players have also had their physical strength considerably affected by travelling a long distance plus the time difference in Jordan.

Despite having little time to prepare for the game, the Republic of Korea coach Park Hang-seo affirmed that the Vietnamese players will enter the match with a strong determination for a win or at least one point.

With the absence of Van Quyet, Park has decided to grant the captain’s armband to the winner of the Vietnamese Golden Ball 2017, midfielder Dinh Thanh Trung (Quang Nam club). Trung said the whole team has made significant efforts to quickly adapt to the time difference in Jordan, adding that they are now physically and spiritually ready for the clash against the home side.

One day ahead of the match, the Vietnamese players joined in a one-hour training session to get familiar with the King Abdullah II Stadium, as regulated by the AFC.

(Source: NDO)