The real ‘Last Dance’ of Vietnam’s soccer team coach Park Hang-seo unfolds.
Vietnam, led by coach Park, will play the second leg of the 2022 ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Mitsubishi Electric Cup Thailand final at 9:30 pm on the 16th (Korean time) at Thammasat Stadium in Pathum Thani, Thailand. In the first leg, the two teams drew 2-2.
It is a tournament where away goals are applied. In order for Vietnam to lift the championship cup, it is necessary to win the second leg or score three or more goals and draw. If the match is not decided within 90 minutes of regular time, overtime and penalty shoot-out are required.
Above all, it is a ‘farewell match’ in which director Park leads Vietnam. Director Park, who took office in 2017, will end his accompaniment with Vietnam at the end of this month. Already finished the last game at home in the first leg. After the game, he greeted the Vietnamese reporters one by one. Vietnamese spectators thanked coach Park for his hard work by hanging placards that read ‘Thank you, Park Hang-seo’. Earlier this month, coach Park also received the Best Foreign Leader Award in Vietnam selected by the Vietnamese Sports 스포츠토토 Authority.
Both Vietnam and coach Park have a strong desire to surpass Thailand. Vietnam, which won the tournament in 2018, a year after Vietnam took office, was frustrated by being blocked by Thailand in the semifinals in the last tournament. After Park took office, the match against Thailand is also tight with 1 win, 4 draws and 1 loss. It was the only game he lost to a South East Asian country, taking charge of Vietnam.
Coach Park has a strong intention to decorate the ‘finale’ with a victory. He said, “(With a draw in the first game) it is true that Thailand is in favor. That’s no reason for us to give up. “I am not a mathematician, so I cannot say what percentage (the probability of winning) is. If we win 1-0, we win. Why do you keep thinking pessimistically? No team is perfect without weaknesses. As a coach, I will do my best in this one remaining game.”