Viet Nam dropped their win regrettably against North Korea in their international friendly match, which ended 1-1 yesterday (May 17) at Ha Noi’s My Dinh Stadium.

Substitute Mac Hong Quan opened the score for the hosts at the 63rd minute, while Hong Kum Song levelled it 20 minutes later.
Both teams opened their attacks to set up their early domination. But their strikers had not yet reached their best form.
The Korean who won a berth at the previous World Cup finals received three free kicks. One came close to the penalty box in the first 30 minutes, but they failed to convert it into a goal.
The host’s side, meanwhile, could not break through the Korean defenders, who worked effectively throughout the game.
Coach Toshyia Miura made several changes in the second half and put Quan in the field at the 61st minute.
The striker who returned to play in Viet Nam from the Czech Republic needed only two minutes to find goalkeeper Ri Myong Guk’s net with a straight shot to the right corner.
Kim Chan-bok also supported his team with four new players who really made a difference.
Defender Nguyen Huy Cuong, in an attempt to stop a ball, touched it with his hand in the penalty area. Referee Alongkorn Feemuechang decided to give the visitors a penalty.
Hong took charge, but Vietnamese keeper Tran Nguyen Manh successfully denied him the shot. But Hong’s second shoot was too strong to block.
The friendly was the last test for Viet Nam ahead of their World Cup qualifier next week against Thailand.
The team will leave for Bangkok today. They’ll have five days to familiarise themselves with the field and the weather.

North Korea who bring their strong squad to Ha Noi will be a strong test for Viet Nam ahead of coming tournaments.

The two sides will play a friendly match at My Dinh Stadium tomorrow.
Coach Kim Chang Bok arrived in Ha Noi on Thursday with experienced players who played hosts Viet Nam five years ago.
Goalkeeper Ri Myong Guk is one of the most experienced players; he played 15 matches for the national team at the World Cup qualifier in 2010. He and teammates then won their tickets to the final for the first time after 44 years.
Ri was voted the best Asian player in 2009.
Defender Jon Kwang Ik, midfielders Jang Song Hyok and So Hyon Uk are the other players to watch.
Jon has played many international competitions from the youth level to World Cup.
Jang was the one who scored the decisive goal to help his team beat Turkmenistan 2-1 in the final of AFC Challenge Cup 2012. Meanwhile, 23-year-old So is considered as a potential striker for North Korea.
Five of these 21 Korean players were part of the team that defeated Viet Nam 2-0 during the final match of the Viet Nam Football Federation Sonha Cup in 2010.
They have two days to practise and familiarize themselves with the stadium’s field conditions as well as Ha Noi’s hot weather.
Meanwhile, Viet Nam’s coach Toshyia Miura is troubled by his players’ injuries.
Some of his key players suffered injuries in recent days;it has forced the Japanese coach to call seven players from the U23 squad to fill the hole.
Miura said the combination of senior and young players will give good results although they will get only a short time to train together.
The friendly is the last match for Viet Nam before the team heads to play Thailand in the World Cup 2018’s qualifier a week later.
A group of Thai referees has been invited to manage the game.
Main FIFA-certified referee Alongkorn Feemuechang will be assisted by Anuwat Feemuechang and Nathakorn Chimphalee.
Phung Dinh Dung of Viet Nam is the fourth referee.

Vietnam’s preparation for the SEA Games later this month took a hit this week when several players had to opt due to injuries.

After valiantly holding the Under-22 of South Korea to a scoreless draw, the Vietnam U22 side went down 3-0 to the Vietnam senior side in a test match on the weekend.

But the loss also indicated that several key players were not at their best.

Midfielder Ngo Hoang Thinh who were stretchered out in the draw against the South Korean U22, was determined to have suffered fractures to his ribs and will need at least two months off.

Joining Hoang Thinh on the sideline and is striker Phan Van Long, whose long suffering groin injury meant he has had to return to club SHB Da Nang.