'Park Hang-seo Magic' Pauses for Now... Vietnam Loses to North Korea, Finishes Last and Eliminated in Qualifiers

Park Hang-seo, head coach of the Vietnam national football team (center), is leaving the field after a 1-2 loss to North Korea in the final Group D match of the 2020 AFC U-23 Championship held on the 16th at Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Sung-yeol] Even the 'Park Hang-seo Magic' could not overcome the wall of qualifying for the Olympic finals.

On the afternoon of the 16th, Vietnam lost 1-2 in a comeback defeat to North Korea in the third match of Group D in the 2020 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-23 Championship held at Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

As a result, Vietnam recorded 2 points with 2 draws and 1 loss, remaining at the bottom of Group D and was eliminated in the preliminary round.

North Korea finished the tournament in 3rd place in the group with 3 points from 1 win and 2 losses after their victory against Vietnam.

At the same time, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Jordan drew 1-1, recording 5 points.

UAE advanced to the quarterfinals as the top team in Group D with a goal difference one goal better.

Jordan, the second place in the group, will face South Korea, the top team in Group C led by coach Kim Hak-beom, in the quarterfinals on the 19th.

In the 15th minute of the first half, Vietnam's Ho Tan Tai received a cross from the right side behind North Korea's defense and passed to Nguyen Tien Linh, who rushed straight toward the goalkeeper. Tien Linh then connected the pass with an inside kick of his right foot to score the opening goal.

Shortly after, in the 26th minute of the first half during a free kick situation, North Korea's Kang Guk-cheol, who took the kick, aimed at Vietnam's goal with a powerful left-footed shot from 30 meters. Goalkeeper Bui Tien Dung reached out to punch the ball, but it hit his hand and bounced off the crossbar, then hit Bui Tien Dung's back and crossed the goal line.

Vietnam conceded an own goal due to the goalkeeper's mistake and ended the first half tied 1-1 with North Korea.

Then, in the 42nd minute of the second half, defender Bao Toan Tran collided with Kim Kwang-hyuk inside the penalty box and knocked him down, and the referee awarded a penalty kick. In the 44th minute of the second half, Lee Cheong-gyu, who took the kick, aimed for the right side of the goal with a right-footed shot and scored.

In stoppage time of the second half, Tran Dinh Trong was sent off due to accumulated yellow cards, and the match ended with Vietnam's 1-2 defeat.

After the match, coach Park Hang-seo comforted the goalkeeper who made the mistake, saying, "I also feel heartbroken. The person who made the mistake must feel even more heartbroken," and added, "The game is over, and I think this is a growing pain for that player. It will be an opportunity for further growth."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.