Vietnam's win over the Philippines: 3 points but 3 big cracks exposed

Bandung, Indonesia – In the group-stage opener of the Southeast Asian championship played on neutral ground in Bandung, Vietnam national team secured a narrow 1-0 victory over the Philippines thanks to the only goal from Nguyen Dinh Bac. Three points are important, but the performance beneath that victory is what should be concerning. Head coach Kim Sang Sik did not hide the admission: his team was lucky. Philippines coach Carles Cuadrat, on the other hand, said his team deserved a point. Both are right. And the very fact that both statements are correct is the real problem for a side regarded as one of the tournament favorites. Vietnam's goal came from a wing attack, not from controlled rhythm. Le Pham Thanh Long passed to debutant Lee Williams Minh Hoang, whose cross was deflected and fell to Nguyen Dinh Bac, who finished precisely. In other words, the goal came from a scramble in the box, not from a coordinated, deliberate move that sliced through the opponent’s defense. The more painful truth lies in midfield. Nguyen Hoang Duc was absent for an unspecified reason, and Vietnam immediately struggled to progress the ball under the Philippines' pressure. The original report admits this directly. A team that depends on one player to escape pressing is a team with a fragile structure. This is not a problem specific to this match; it is a sign of an unfinished system. After halftime, the Philippines pressed harder and dominated the flow of the game. Goalkeeper Patrik Le Giang made several crucial saves, including stopping a close-range header late in the match. Cuadrat's side also hit the crossbar in the 23rd minute and had a goal disallowed for offside in the 83rd minute. If the ball had gone in instead of hitting the bar, who could guarantee the result would still be 1-0? Vietnam created very few clear chances throughout the match. Dinh Bac's goal came from a rebound. This victory does not reflect the team's absolute strength; it reflects an ability to capitalize on opponent mistakes, a quality of a streetwise team, or a lucky one. But the biggest problem is not tactical; it is human. Nguyen Xuan Son, Vietnam's most important attacking player, left the pitch in the 60th minute with a calf muscle injury. Coach Kim Sang Sik called him 'extremely important' both for his on-field contribution and for the numbers he produces. A team that depends on a striker the way Vietnam does will experience a similar crisis when it loses him. That is not a prediction; it is a logical fact. And the shock does not stop there. Just three days later, on September 29, Vietnam will face Thailand. With a team that has just lost its top attacking star, exposed its midfield fragility without the captain, and has only three days of rest, this is a brutal test. For the Philippines, Carles Cuadrat's side proved they are not easy opponents. They created chances against one of the tournament favorites. They deserve respect for that. With what they have shown, the Philippines can absolutely take points off other big teams in the group. Regarding officiating, VAR technology played a decisive role in two key situations: a Philippines goal was disallowed for offside, and a red card for Philippines player Nyholm was overturned after VAR intervention. Vietnam benefited from both situations. There was no misconduct from Vietnam, but clearly VAR shaped the match outcome. 'I have witnessed many Southeast Asian teams win with luck and call it "character."' – My experience following regional football tells me this is very common. But that same experience teaches me: a team that relies on luck to win one match cannot rely on luck to win an entire tournament. The truth is, this Vietnam victory is like the most honest mirror: it shows the team still has many gaps. They have belief, they have spirit, they have an excellent goalkeeper, but they also have very big holes. The question now is not 'Did Vietnam deserve to win?' – they deserved three points, that is obvious. The right question now is: 'Can Vietnam repeat this kind of win against Thailand?' And if not, what will they change? One thing is certain: the Thailand match will have no room for luck. And if Xuan Son cannot play, Vietnam will have to find another answer besides luck. I was wrong at the World Cup in Russia, and that was the best thing that ever happened to me. I don't write to be loved. I write to be remembered. And I will remember this match as a warning that no victory is permanent if you do not look squarely at your own cracks.