Guam coach targets victory against Vietnam at AFC U20 Asian Cup qualifiers

After two draws, Guam U20 coach Dominic Tacadina is determined to secure a win against Vietnam in their third match of Group A for the 2025 AFC U20 Asian Cup qualifiers, set to take place at Lach Tray Stadium in Hai Phong city on September 25.

Two days ago, Guam managed a fortunate 2-2 draw with Bangladesh, thanks to a last-minute equaliser. Now, they prepare to face Vietnam.

"We have carefully studied our opponents in this group stage," Tacadina said.

"All the teams have improved significantly in recent years. Vietnam, in particular, play well and are capable of competing with the top teams in the region. Nonetheless, our goal remains to win."

After two matches, Guam sit second in Group A with two points. While they still have a chance to advance, they have faced teams of similar caliber that are Bhutan and Bangladesh. Vietnam and Syria are expected to present tougher challenges. Tacadina emphasised that his team must aim to win their remaining matches to qualify.

"We entered the tournament with the ambition to qualify, and that goal hasn't changed. We want to win every match," Tacadina said.

Curtis Harmon, who scored the equaliser against Bangladesh, added: "We came to this tournament with high aspirations. With two points from two matches, I believe we can advance. We are committed to winning every game, and the whole team are putting in tremendous effort every day."

Vietnam showcased their strength in their opening match, easily defeating Bhutan 5-0 on September 23. This victory not only underlined the capabilities of the young Vietnamese team but also provided positive momentum for upcoming matches.

The 5-0 win propelled Vietnam to the top of Group A, ahead of Syria, who also have three points but trails on goal difference.

Despite being favoured to win against Guam, coach Hua Hien Vinh acknowledged the challenge:

"I have chosen different line-ups for each match. With a tight schedule, we need to prepare multiple options," he said.

"We watched Guam's match live, and they have strong players who are not like Bhutan. Their progress makes us cautious."

The qualification stage of the AFC U20 Asian Cup 2025 runs from September 21 to September 29, involving 45 teams divided into five groups. The top 10 group leaders and five best second-placed teams will secure spots in the final round, which will take place in China.

Notably, the top four teams will qualify for the 2025 FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile next year.

The Vietnamese team have participated in the Asian tournament nine times, with their best result being a semi-final appearance in 2016, which earned them a place at the 2017 FIFA U20 World Cup./.

VNA