Brazil's coach and Vietnam's national team win their first match in Japan

Vietnam U17 defeated Imabari Club's youth team 2-0 in their initial training match held in Japan.

On the afternoon of November 8, local time, the Vietnam U17 team played their first practice match during their training camp in Ehime, Japan, as part of their preparation plan for the 2026 AFC U17 Asian Cup qualifiers.

The opponents for Coach Cristiano Roland’s team in this match were the U18 Imabari squad – the youth team of Imabari Club currently competing in J.League 2, considered a suitable rival for Vietnam U17 to test their lineup during the warm-up phase in Japan.

For assessment purposes, Coach Cristiano Roland divided the squad into two lineups, each playing one half. In the first half, Vietnam U17 fielded goalkeeper Chu Bá Huấn, defenders Hoàng Việt, Mạnh Cường, Đăng Khoa, Anh Hào; midfielders Quý Vương, Ngọc Sơn, Minh Thủy, Chu Ngọc Nguyễn Lực, Sỹ Bách; and forward Trần Mạnh Quân.

The match began with a balanced contest, as the ball mostly stayed in midfield with both teams competing for control.

At the 28th minute, Vietnam U17 took the lead with a beautiful free kick by Chu Ngọc Nguyễn Lực from outside the penalty area. By the 43rd minute, the lead doubled following another set-piece situation where the ball was struck sharply, causing confusion in the U18 Imabari defense, and Sỹ Bách quickly finished to make it 2-0.

In the second half, Coach Cristiano Roland replaced the entire lineup to give other players a chance. Despite energetic play and creating multiple attacking opportunities, Vietnam U17 did not score further and closed the match with a 2-0 victory.

This result sends a positive signal for Vietnam U17 as they continue refining their tactics and selecting players before entering the 2026 AFC U17 Asian Cup qualifiers. The team is scheduled to have two more practice matches, facing Matsuyama University on November 11 and U18 Ehime on November 13, before concluding their training camp in Japan.

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Vietnam U17 holds first training session in Japan Coach Cristiano Roland and his squad conducted their first training session in Ehime, Japan, after settling into their accommodation. See more