OFFICIAL: Vietnam National Team uses 3 naturalized Brazilian players to face South Korea

Coach Kim Sang Sik utilized the three naturalized players Hoang Hen, Xuan Son, and Tai Loc at the same time during the match where Vietnam defeated Siheung 6-0.

On the afternoon of July 5th, the Vietnam national team played its first friendly match during the training camp in Incheon, South Korea, against Siheung FC – a team currently competing in K.League 3. This was the first test for Coach Kim Sang Sik and his squad as they prepare for the ASEAN Cup 2026.

True to the goal of evaluating the squad, Coach Kim Sang Sik used two different lineups, each playing one half, to give every player a chance to perform. Notably, the three naturalized players Nguyen Xuan Son, Do Hoang Hen, and Nguyen Tai Loc were deployed in the second half alongside the core group of players.

The match took place under unfavorable weather conditions as a heavy rain suddenly appeared right after the opening whistle and lasted for about the first 15 minutes. However, that did not greatly affect the tactical plans of the Vietnam team.

In the 2nd minute, Viet Cuong opened the scoring with a beautiful right-footed curler into the top corner. The team continued to create coherent attacking moves with smooth coordination between lines. In the 31st minute, Hai Long doubled the lead with a technical finish after a well-organized buildup. Just eight minutes later, the same midfielder completed his brace with a close-range finish following an assist from Viet Cuong, closing the first half with a 3-0 advantage.

Entering the second half, Coach Kim Sang Sik made a complete lineup change to continue evaluating personnel. The new combinations quickly proved effective. In the 48th minute, Do Hoang Hen scored inside the box to make it 4-0. Just four minutes later, Nguyen Xuan Son sprinted forward and provided a convenient assist for Hoang Hen to complete his brace, putting Vietnam ahead 5-0.

In the remaining time, the team maintained pressure. Dinh Bac had a shot that hit the post in the 61st minute, while Truong Tien Anh and Nguyen Van Vi also created several notable chances. In the 83rd minute, Dinh Bac accelerated past the opposing defender's marking before slotting home accurately, sealing a 6-0 victory for Vietnam.

Besides the positive result, what is more important is that the coaching staff gained further practical assessments of the team's tactical operation and the integration of new elements, especially the group of naturalized players, before moving on to the next friendly matches.