Head coach Hoang Anh Tuan made eight changes compared to the starting lineup in the 4-1 victory over Laos on Sunday, given that even a two-goal defeat would ensure a place in the semifinals for Vietnam. However, Vietnam's reserve players still managed to edge out Philippines.

Nguyen Huu Tuan finishes and scores the only goal for Vietnam against Philippines in AFF U23 Championship on August 22, 2023.

The only goal of the match was scored by midfielder Nguyen Huu Tuan in the 18th minute.

With the 1-0 victory, Vietnam clinched the top spot of group C and will meet the top team of group B, Malaysia, in the semifinals.

The new lineup saw Vietnam entering the game with caution and not playing well. There was no synergy among the attackers and they often made failed passes. The defense was not under much pressure because the opposing team also had a lackluster performance.

Vietnam were still able to break the deadlock in that circumstance thanks to Tuan's goal. Receiving Nguyen Dang Duong's well-timed pass, Tuan finished accurately from the edge of the box and beat goalkeeper Dimitri Macapagal.

In this match, Vietnam goalkeeper Quan Van Chuan’s performance was inconsistent with poor timing and positioning. Philippines had two chances from Chuan's errors, but Martin Merino missed both occasions.

In the second half, Philippines' stamina waned and they were unable to create good offensive plays. Meanwhile, Vietnam gradually put key players on the field but squandered many great scoring opportunities.

Substitute players like Khuat Van Khang, Nguyen Van Truong and Nguyen Quoc Viet helped Vietnam dominate in the late second half.

However, the highlight in the last minutes was heated moments between Van Truong and Justin Frias. These two players often clashed and provoked each other, resulting in yellow cards for both. On the touchline, coach Tuan expressed dissatisfaction when his player engaged in unnecessary scuffles.

The score 1-0 remained until the final whistle. Vietnam topped group C with six points after two wins. They will face Malaysia in the semifinal at 4 p.m. on Thursday. The other semifinal is between Thailand and Indonesia at 8 p.m. on the same day.

The tournament is held between Aug. 17 and 26 in Rayong, Thailand.

Female footballers go home after concluding historic journey at 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup

The Vietnamese women’s national football team returned home on August 3 after concluding their historic journey at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.

Int'l media praise Vietnamese women footballers in 2023 World Cup

Despite not being able to secure any point against the Portuguese women's national team in the second match of Group E at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, coach Mai Duc Chung's team still received praise from the international media for their relentless fighting spirit.

Women football: Vietnam-US match draws impressive viewer number

The July 22 game between Vietnam and the US during the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 in New Zealand drew 6.26 million viewers, making it the most-watched football telecast in the US since last year’s men’s World Cup final, according to Fox Sports.

Bia Saigon supports Vietnam national women's football team with exclusive sponsorship

Bia Saigon has announced its sponsorship for "Vietnam, Where Are You?", a documentary on the remarkable journey of the national women's football team, highlighting their historic qualification for the 2023 World Cup.

Vietnamese footballer nominated for all-time Asian Cup XI

Center-back Que Ngoc Hai is among 10 defenders nominated for four positions in the all-time Asian Cup XI by the Asian Football Federation (AFC).

Source: VnExpress