Scoring against Malaysia, the Vietnamese prodigy speaks sincerely about the Brazilian coach

U17 Vietnam defender Mạnh Cường revealed he gained many lessons from coach Cristiano Roland.

Securing a commanding 4-0 victory over U17 Malaysia to complete the qualifiers with five straight wins, U17 Vietnam successfully qualified for the 2026 AFC U17 Championship. Although a draw would have sufficed, U17 Vietnam did not approach the match with a defensive mindset, as that would have been risky. Moreover, Cristiano Roland's squad was fully confident in their ability to win, thus they played very proactively.

Right after the kickoff, U17 Vietnam launched an overwhelming attack, causing U17 Malaysia to falter and commit fouls. From Nguyễn Lực’s free kick in the 4th minute, Văn Dương took a shot that goalkeeper Khaufly parried, allowing Đăng Khoa to pass to defender Mạnh Cường who scored on the rebound, breaking the deadlock.

After the match, Mạnh Cường — who scored the opening goal — expressed his feelings openly: “I am very happy to have contributed to today’s victory. I’m proud to have scored, but I know my performance still has flaws and I need to work harder to improve myself.”

The player also shared what he learned from coach Roland: “I learned from the coach about passion in football and how to confidently attack effectively. He has taught me many valuable things.”

At this tournament, U17 Vietnam received much praise from fans for their beautiful teamwork and the emergence of many promising players. The excellent performance by coach Cristiano Roland and his team is the most meaningful gift to the supporters who have always steadfastly backed them, and it lays a solid foundation for bigger goals ahead, aiming toward the 2034 World Cup.

In the 2026 AFC U17 Championship qualifiers, the team U17 Vietnam kept a clean sheet and scored a total of 30 goals. This achievement reflects thorough preparation over recent times; specifically, right after the 2025 AFC U17 Championship finals, the Vietnam Football Federation continued to increase investment in youth training, targeting future competitions.

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