After reaching the final of the AFF Championship, Vietnam will be aiming to continue their impressive form when they host Hong Kong in an international friendly on Thursday.
The Dragons have undergone a long stretch without a victory following six consecutive matches, adding even more pressure to them.
Match preview
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Vietnam have not played since January, but they will be aiming to get their momentum back on track immediately after two games without a victory.
Their most recent matches were in the AFF Championship, and despite the fact they were unable to lift the trophy, they did reach the final of the competition.
That was played over two legs which resulted in a 2-2 draw and then a 1-0 loss against Thailand, and that is something they will be trying to avenge this week.
The loss in the second leg was the first defeat they had suffered in 12 matches across all competitions, and that has shown the strength that the team has overall.
A big positive for Vietnam has been their defensive qualities, as they have earned four clean sheets across their previous games which has allowed them to be tough to break down.
That is something that the visitors will be desperate to change, but they will need to drastically improve their recent form to achieve that goal.
Hong Kong have gone six consecutive matches without a win, putting plenty of pressure on head coach Jorn Andersen as he must start to change the tide of their momentum.
During that period, the Dragons have only managed to score a single goal, compounding their difficulties throughout this period.
It is a clear area for improvement heading into this next round of international matches, as finding the back of the net is going to be necessary for Hong Kong.
However, against such a strong defensive unit, Thursday might prove to be a tough fixture to try and make that happen.
Team News
Vietnam will be looking to capitalise on the momentum they have right now, therefore there might not be too many changes from the team that started last time in the AFF Championship.
Defensively it is unlikely there will be alterations due to how strong they have been, with a back five being the preferred choice for Park Hang-seo.
The visitors have showcased their ability to play with a 4-1-4-1, and that is something that the team will be hoping can improve their offensive performances.
Wu Chun Ming is likely to be used in the defensive midfield role and there is certainly going to be pressure on him to deal with the threat that their opponents will cause.
Vietnam possible starting lineup:
Dang; Vu, Hoang, Que, Nguyen, Doan; T. Nguyen, H.D. Nguyen, Do; T.L. Nguyen, Van Duc
Hong Kong possible starting lineup:
Chan; Yea, Nunez, Tse, Leung; Wu, Law, Wong, Tan, Sun; Orr
We say: Vietnam 3-0 Hong Kong
Vietnam have been enjoying a strong run of form as of late, and their defensive strength combined with Hong Kong's recent lack of attacking threat should lead to the hosts earning a comfortable win.
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