>>> Vietnam beat Cambodia 4-0 to set up final clash against Indonesia
After a hat-trick against Cambodia U22s in the semifinal of the 30th SEA Games men's soccer on Saturday (Dec. 7), plus five previous goals in the group stage, striker Ha Duc Chinh has eight goals, on par with Indonesia’s striker Osvaldo Haay. The duo are leading the race for top scorer at this year’s biennial multi-sport event.
Ranked second in the list is Duc Chinh’s teammate, Nguyen Tien Linh, with six goals, including a hat-trick against Laos U22s and a double against Thailand U22s.
Chinh also set a record as the first Vietnamese player to score the most goals at the SEA Games and the second player to have the most goals for all teams under the guidance of head coach Park Hang-seo, after his teammate Nguyen Quang Hai.
Chinh has proved his excitement before the final match by affirming: "Vietnam U22s always come out with the belief of the highest victory, to defeat the opponents."
After the convincing 4-0 victory over Cambodia in the semi-finals, Vietnam will reunite with Indonesia in the gold medal match at the 30th SEA Games. Indonesia were defeated by Vietnam 2-1 in the group stage, however, according to Chinh, the upcoming final will be a completely new match and his whole team must make their best preparations.
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Ha Duc Chinh (No. 9) celebrates with teammates during Vietnam’s SEA Games semis with Cambodia on December 7.
“I think everything will be back to the starting line. The final will be a new match. We have to concentrate, get in the best condition to enter the match and win the gold medal”, the Phu Tho province-based striker told reporters, as quoted on the website of the Vietnam Football Federation.
As the top scorer for Vietnam at this year’s campaign with eight goals so far, Chinh is confident in himself as well as in the leadership of coach Park for the reunion with Indonesia U22s. He said: “Indonesia are strong but coach Park Hang-seo will have a strategy to cope with them. Our mission is to enter the field, follow the tactics and fight.”
The SEA Games men's football final between Vietnam and Indonesia will take place at Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila at 19:00 (Vietnam time) on December 10. Earlier, at 15:00 on the same day, Myanmar will play Cambodia in the bronze-medal match.
