Vietnam will take on South Korea U23 in the third-place playoff of the AFC U23 Asian Cup, after their impressive run at the tournament was halted by a 3–0 defeat to China U23 in the semi-finals late Tuesday night.
The result ended hopes of a place in the final, but it does little to overshadow what has been a largely positive campaign for Vietnam U23, who exceeded expectations to reach the last four and remain firmly in contention for a podium finish.
The semi-final proved a step too far on the night. Vietnam were disrupted early by the loss of key centre-back Nguyen Hieu Minh to a serious knee injury, which unsettled the defensive structure and affected their ability to build play from the back. China took advantage after the break, scoring twice in quick succession before Vietnam were reduced to ten men following a red card, making any comeback unlikely. A late third goal sealed the outcome.
Despite the scoreline, head coach Kim Sang-sik took responsibility for the defeat, pointing to issues with pressing, passing and concentration at set pieces, while acknowledging that China executed their game plan effectively.
Attention now turns to Saturday’s third-place playoff, where Vietnam will meet South Korea, one of Asia’s traditional youth powerhouses, in what promises to be a stern but valuable test. The match offers Vietnam a final opportunity to end their campaign with a medal and underline the progress made by this young squad on the continental stage.
Beyond the immediate result, the tournament has highlighted the depth, resilience and growing maturity of Vietnam’s next generation. From disciplined defensive displays to moments of attacking intent, the journey to the semi-finals has reinforced optimism about the future direction of Vietnamese football.
Photo courtesy of the AFC.
