Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnam’s U23team were defeated 2-3 by the RoK's Ulsan Hyundai FC in a friendly match atthe Hanoi’s Hang Day Stadium on December 21.

This was one of preparation matches for theteam before the Asian U23 Football Championship next month in China.

Before the game, Coach Kim Do Hoon of thevisiting team said a win for his club was difficult as Vietnam is a strong teambut Hyundai proved to be stronger while the host was not as powerful as hethought.

Ulsan Hyundai needed just 10 minutes totest the Vietnamese side before they opened the score with a penalty.

Defender Hoang Van Khanh made a mistake inthe box and the visiting side was given an 11 metre kick that Kim Seung Jun didnot waste.

Three minutes later it was 2-0 for them.

Ulsan Hyundai’s Kim In Sung received a longpass and broke through Vietnam’s defence to face goalkeeper Nguyen Van Hoang.His straight shot did not give Hoang a chance to save his net.

The RoK side continued dominating the gamein the rest of the first half while Vietnam also had their attacks.

Midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai brought acorner kick to the box which came to Bui Tien Dung whose header, however,reached Ulsan Hyundai keeper Moon Jung In.

Later on, Nguyen Phong Hong Duy had a lowshot at the 21st minute but it went a little wide.

Six changes were made in the Vietnameseside after the interval as Coach Park Hang-seo tried to improve his team’sattacking abilities.

Among the strikers, Nguyen Van Toan and HaDuc Chinh showed their best.

Just four minutes after staying on thefield, Toan made it 1-2 with a finish from a narrow angle to a far high cornerof goalie Moon at the 50th mark.

His goal was a strong push for theteammates.

Striker Nguyen Cong Phuong missed histhreatening chance when he was just meters in front of the goalmouth.

Midfielder Hai was also not successful withhis finish and could not pass Moon.

Toan continued to make Ulsan Hyundai’sdefence disordered with his attempts as well as accurate passes to teammates inHyundai’s box.

In the 88th minute, he gave a perfect ballto Chinh who made a loop ball over Moon to the net, making it 2-2 for thehosts.

However, Hyundai’s substitute Kang Min Soonetted with a left-foot kick to bring his team 3-2 win in the extra time.

Speaking with reporters after the match,Vietnamese Captain Luong Xuan Truong said, “Ulsan Hyundai is a strong team in theRoK. I think they play the same style with their U-23 squad. Playing with themis a good chance for us to know more about one of our rivals at the comingAsian championship.”

“We made many mistakes in the first halfbut in the second we did a better job. After this match we will have to workharder to fix our problems,” said Truong, who has played two years in the RoK K.League.

Meanwhile his teammate Toan said he washappy as he could score for the U-23 team. It would be a strong force for himand would make him more confident for the continental tournament next month inChina.

“We can see the RoK style through UlsanHyundai. We will find out their pros and cons and work on how to overcome themin China,” he said.

Vietnam will play a final friendly matchagainst Palestine on January 4 in Shanghai before they officially taking partin the Asian tournament.

In China, Vietnam is in Group D with theRoK, Australia and Syria. The competition is from January 9 to January 27. -VNA