Hồ Tấn Tài (No 13) scored to make it 3-0 in the 56th minute. — VNA/VNS Photo Phạm Kiên

Football

HÀ NỘI — The 6-0 victory over Laos on Wednesday was enough to satisfy Việt Nam's head coach, but coach Park said that the team will have to perform a lot better when they meet Malaysia next at the ongoing AFF Cup.

With their win over Laos, Việt Nam are top of Group B, ahead of Malaysia on a goal difference.

After the match, the South Korean coach Park expressed his satisfaction with his players' performance.

"We always have to try our best in every match. The first match at the AFF Cup is often difficult, with a lot going on, so it makes me nervous. However, today the players gave their best effort and got a good result," Park said.

However, Park was not in a hurry to rejoice. The Vietnamese team have just experienced the first match and will meet tough opponents in the next matches.

"Not every match makes me completely satisfied. Today, the players played well. But of course, we still need to improve to better forward a favourable outcome against Malaysia," Park said.

Midfielder and captain Đỗ Hùng Dũng said: “Vietnamese players have competed in many tournaments together under the time of coach Park. This is the third AFF Cup but the whole team always plays with the highest desire and determination."

Meanwhile, the head coach of the Laos team Michael Weiss congratulated the Vietnamese team for their well-deserved victory.

Weiss said: “Việt Nam’s performance was really impressive.”

Despite having to play away, Việt Nam still dominated the match, keeping possession for 85 per cent of the game.

"Việt Nam attacked diversely and we couldn't stop them from scoring," Weiss said, "Việt Nam played too well, they put a lot of pressure and won deservedly."

However, Weiss said that his team will improve and play better in the next matches.

"I will spend more time talking to the players. The team is not dismayed. I'm not going to punish them when they can't play at the level they're at," Weiss said.

“I know the level of the Lao team. We have to focus on the next games against Myanmar, Singapore and Malaysia. The whole team has to look to the future. We lost but we learned.”

Vietnamese captain Dũng was voted as the best player while Nguyễn Hoàng Đức was the most active player.

Việt Nam will have four days to prepare for the next match with Malaysia on December 27 in Mỹ Đình National Stadium, Hà Nội. — VNS