The 1-1 draw with U23 Kuwait in the opening match of ASIAD 20 revealed the problem of U23 Vietnam. That is the finishing ability.
Although creating many chances, the effectiveness in decisive plays was not commensurate. Le Phat and his teammates launched 27 shots, including 4 times hitting the crossbar or post but only one successful time, with the only goal being scored by Ngoc My.
In more than 90 minutes, U23 Vietnam continuously brought the ball close to the U23 Kuwait goal, creating opportunities for many players in different positions such as Le Phat, Thanh Nhan, Nguyen Hoang, Quoc Viet, Quoc Cuong or Le Van Thuan. However, they lacked diversity when finishing and could not manage when the opponent rushed in.
Le Phat is one of the most regretful players. Right at the beginning of the match, this striker twice in a row hit the wooden frame in the same play. After that, Thanh Nhan also had a diagonal shot that was denied by the post.
In the second half, Le Phat continued to have a close-range opportunity, while Nguyen Hoang could not take advantage of the header situation in the penalty area. In injury time, Le Van Thuan again sent the ball to the crossbar.
Dinh Bac's absence makes the finishing problem important. This striker used to play a scoring role in the Vietnamese youth teams at the 2025 U23 Southeast Asian Championship, SEA Games 33 and U23 Asian Championship 2026. He also won the top scorer title at the continental tournament.
Dinh Bac's value is not only in the number of goals scored. The ability to move without the ball, handle in a narrow range, find space and create breakthroughs helps him become the finishing point for attacks.
This is a problem that coach Dinh Hong Vinh needs to solve in the following matches. When facing opponents with better defense capabilities, U23 Vietnam may not create the same number of chances as the match against U23 Kuwait. At that time, the ability to take advantage of clear plays will be more meaningful.
