Football

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam’s national football team lost to South Korea’s Incheon United 1-2 in a friendly match held in South Korea on Monday.

The match was part of Việt Nam’s preparations for the upcoming ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup 2018.

Incheon United, who are in 12th place in the K.League, scored the opener on the stroke of half time, but the Vietnamese came back fighting after the break and levelled the score through Nguyễn Văn Quyết in the 50th minute.

Head coach Park Hang-seo rang the changes to give some of his fringe players a chance, but substitute Dương Thanh Hào made an error in the 71st minute allowing Hiu Jin to regain the lead for South Korea.

The Vietnamese squad will next play friendly matches against Seoul FC on October 25, and Seoul E Land on October 29. They will then return home the following day before the final squad for the AFF Suzuki Cup 2018 is announced.

The AFF event will take place from November 8 to December 15 with 26 matches between 10 teams.

Việt Nam are in Group A together with Malaysia, Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos.

This year, the AFF Suzuki Cup will feature a new playing format, with both home and away ties. 

Việt Nam will face bordering Laos in their first match on November 8. The country’s second match will be against Malaysia on November 16 at Mỹ Đình National Stadium in Hà Nội. Four days later, on November 20, the national team will play against Myanmar.

The Champions will be awarded US$200,000, while the runners-up will receive $75,000. The losing semi-finalists will be handed $50,000 each. — VNS