The player who was threatened with ‘cutting the tendon’ became a U23 star in Vietnam

All 3 goals of U23 Vietnam in the first 2 matches of the group stage U23 Asia 2022 are all super products. Vu Tien Long is the latest name that stunned Vietnamese and international fans with a moment identical to the best goal of the 2018 World Cup.

Perhaps not many people notice that Vu Tien Long is the player who has won the most international titles in the current U23 Vietnam squad. Even before making his professional mark, this player caused a stir in public opinion 5 years ago, when he had just celebrated his 15th birthday. However, he was mentioned for the first time in Vu Tien Long’s newspaper again. is a bad impression.

In the qualifying round of the 2017 national U15 tournament, Vu Tien Long played for Hanoi U15. The incident happened when the defender in 2002 faced his hometown team Thanh Hoa. Vu Tien Long’s celebratory action is said to provoke the opponent’s coaching staff. Coach Le Hong Minh of U15 Thanh Hoa got angry and threatened to “cut the tendons” of his compatriots.

Vu Tien Long once shared that he was afraid that the incident would close the next doors in his career. A young player with a moral “black spot” can be difficult to get into the youth team. However, coach Vu Hong Viet trusted and gave his student a chance when he called up the U15 Vietnam squad to attend the Southeast Asian tournament, only 3 months after the scandal.

Vu Tien Long was the first scorer of U15 Vietnam in that tournament. In the third game, he was given the captain’s armband. That was the tournament that Vu Tien Long and his teammates brought home the first Southeast Asian championship of the U15/U16 age group for Vietnamese football. This squad also includes Khuat Van Khang, who is currently wearing a U23 shirt for Vietnam to attend the 2022 AFC U23 Championship final.

Vu Tien Long was rarely mentioned in the following years. When Vietnam U23 won the Southeast Asian championship earlier this year, this player was also on the list but only played one match and then stopped the tournament because of COVID-19.

The defender in 2002 continued to be called up to the squad for the 31st SEA Games, but did not have the main kick. However, coach Park Hang Seo gave this player a chance in the opening match, when Phan Tuan Tai was injured. Vu Tien Long scored in the eyes of the Korean military leader, occupying the main position in the left-left central defender position.

Video: Vu Tien Long’s world-class goal

After winning the 31st SEA Games gold medal, Vu Tien Long became the hero of Vietnam U23 in an unexpected way. The appearance of the player wearing the number 6 shirt in the Korean U23 penalty area was a surprise for the opponent.

Vu Tien Long is a central defender, ranked by coach Gong Oh-kyun in the position of right-back. The ability to participate in the attack was not the highlight of the player born in 2002 until he shone in the match on the evening of 6/6.

The two best opportunities of U23 Vietnam belong to Vu Tien Long. At the beginning of the second half, the defender also had a situation to penetrate the penalty area and perform a cheek-swiping shot to the regret of the Vietnamese fans. But, in the second, Vu Tien Long created an explosive moment.