Vietnam U23 Star: 'With only 14-15 players available, who needs tactics anymore?'

Comments from a Thanh Hóa player after the victory over CA TP.HCM revealed that the team was so depleted that any tactical planning became a luxury.

The 2-1 win by Đông Á Thanh Hóa against CA TP.HCM on the evening of February 8th was not just about earning three points, but also a special story about a squad forced to play with severely weakened personnel. On the bench, the Thanh Hóa team barely had enough legitimate substitutes, compelling the coaching staff to prepare an unprecedented "emergency" plan.

After the match, midfielder Nguyễn Ngọc Mỹ openly discussed the team's difficult situation. “If there are only 14-15 players fit to play, what tactics can we really have? The Đông Á Thanh Hóa players now just try their best to fight because there aren’t enough players left for tactics,” said the star who recently returned from the Vietnam U23 team. This straightforward statement truly reflects the reality, where all tactical considerations are almost set aside.

In fact, during the away game at Thống Nhất Stadium, Thanh Hóa registered only 17 players, including 11 starters and 6 substitutes. Notably, only 4 substitutes were capable of playing on the field, while the other two were goalkeepers. The risk of “team collapse” was always present if injuries or cards occurred during the intense match.

Given this situation, the Thanh Hóa coaching staff prepared an unbelievable contingency plan: the backup goalkeeper had to wear two types of jerseys, one goalkeeper jersey and one outfield player jersey. In an emergency, this goalkeeper was ready to be deployed as a midfielder, forward, or defender to prevent the team from being short-handed on the pitch. This was an improvised solution, not part of any tactical playbook.

On the other hand, those on the field had to push beyond their physical limits. Every challenge and every dive came from a “no retreat” spirit. The team’s effort was rewarded by an outstanding performance from goalkeeper Y Eli Nie and a brace of long-range shots by Damoth Thongkhamsavath, securing an emotional 2-1 win.

The three points against CA TP.HCM allowed Thanh Hóa to temporarily rise to 10th place and widen the gap from the bottom group. More than the ranking, this victory demonstrated that when the squad is worn down to the point of “no tactics left,” fighting spirit and on-field adaptability are what keep the team standing strong in adversity.

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