BANGKOK, Nov 10 — National head coach Nelo Vingada did not hide his disappointment when his team went down tamely 1-4 to North Korea in their Asian Cup Qualifier at the i-mobile Stadium, in Buriram tonight.
The Portuguese coach blamed the first goal, a penalty awarded after captain Fadhli Shas handed the ball in the box, as one of the reasons for the defeat.
“To suffer a goal down early in the match is not good as it rocked the concentration of the players and it shows on the the players,” he told reporters in a post-match press conference at the stadium here, today.
His players according to him, were under pressure when the North Koreans who were emboldened with their first goal kept their pressure and their persistence were awarded with their second goal.
Vingada who remained optimistic with the ability of his players said, things got more difficult when the North Koreans got their third goal just two minutes after the breather, resulting in their attempt to fightback doomed.
“It proved to be more difficult after the third goal,” he said, adding the North Koreans stronger physique also proved vital as they won most of the high balls.
Meanwhile, North Korea’s coach Jorn Andersen said, the result proved that the better team won the match, as his players controlled every aspect of the match throughout the 90 minutes.
“Of course its good to get the first goal, but we controlled the whole match and proved we are the better team throughout the match,” he said. — Bernama
