U17 Vietnam - U17 Uzbekistan: Winning a ticket to the quarterfinals through a narrow door

After 2 matches in Group D of the 2023 AFC U17 Championship, Japan is leading with 4 points, goal difference +4. Right behind is Uzbekistan, also with 4 points, but goal difference is +1. India and Vietnam both have 1 point, but we are behind in goal difference, -4 compared to -1.

According to the tournament rules, the criteria for ranking when 2 or more teams have the same number of points will be the result of direct confrontation between the teams involved.

If Vietnam wins Uzbekistan in the final match, they will have 4 points after the group stage, but the ranking of coach Hoang Anh Tuan and his team will still depend on the results of the remaining match.

Specifically, if Japan does not lose to India, they will have at least 5 points and will certainly win the top spot. At that time, Vietnam and Uzbekistan are equal on points, but coach Hoang Anh Tuan's team will be in second place due to a better head-to-head record.

In case Japan unexpectedly loses to India, Vietnam still has to win against Uzbekistan, but it depends on the specific results of the 2 matches to know whether they will continue or not. At that time, all 4 teams in Group D will have 4 points, the secondary index for comparison is goal difference.

“We have a different approach to each match, so in the next match against Uzbekistan, we will show a very different performance” - Coach Hoang Anh Tuan

Despite their determination, Vietnam is clearly in a difficult position. In addition to the players not playing well in the last two matches, the opponent is also very formidable. Uzbekistan is a team that clearly showed its strength when it held Japan to a draw in the opening match, then defeated India, a team from which Vietnam only earned 1 point. Having to win to have any hope of advancing, Vietnam will play an offensive game. Cong Phuong and his teammates need to be wary of Uzbekistan's dangerous counterattacks.

With what has been shown since the beginning of the tournament, the team from Central Asia has a simple playing style but has effective counter-attacks. Uzbekistan has many quality players and can turn the game around. In the match against Japan, it was striker Saidov, and in the match against India, Reimov, although having very few chances, can still convert them into goals. Or the captain Mirzayev, who has good basic skills and good combat experience. This player is currently playing in the Uzbekistan national championship.

Uzbekistan is a team with a lot of achievements in this playground. In the previous 9 times participating in the U17 Asian tournament, they won the championship in 2012, were runners-up in 2010 and reached the quarter-finals and semi-finals 4 other times.

Uzbekistan has 4 points after 2 matches but they did not show much superiority compared to India, their opponent Vietnam had a draw in the first match. Uzbekistan had to wait until the end of the match to get the only goal of the match. The Central Asian team was stuck for most of the time and did not show sharpness in their attacks.

In this match, Uzbekistan only needs a draw to be sure of advancing. Speaking before the match, coach Jamoliddin Rakhmatullaev is confident that his team will achieve good results against Vietnam.

With U17 Vietnam, coach Hoang Anh Tuan's students showed good ball control and coordination in the midfield, but could not create breakthroughs in the attacks. That was also the main reason why Vietnam lost the victory against India. In the match against Japan, coach Hoang Anh Tuan's students also maintained a good game, but when they needed to attack to find an equalizer, they were stuck and conceded consecutive goals when they no longer had enough energy to play football.

Vietnam's chances of advancing are less than Uzbekistan's. However, with tactical rationality and fighting spirit for the national flag, coach Hoang Anh Tuan and his team will squeeze through the narrow door.

Vietnam's ultimate goal is to defeat Uzbekistan in the final match to secure a ticket to the quarterfinals.

The match between Vietnam and Uzbekistan will take place at 7:00 p.m. on June 23.

Expected starting lineup of both teams

U17 Vietnam: Bao Ngoc, Quoc Khanh, Tuan Khai, Thanh Binh, Van Thanh, Long Vu, Huynh Trieu, Dinh Thuong, Quoc Trung, Cong Phuong, Thien Phu

U17 Uzbekistan: Sobirov, Tulkubekov, Uktamov, Mirzaev, Saidov, Djumatov, Shodiboev, Kamirov, Abdoul Boriev, Urmonjonov, Sorirov

According to Tin Tuc Newspaper