U23 Vietnam and the memorable journey at the 2026 AFC U23 Championship finals

In the early morning of January 24, U23 Vietnam won dramatically against U23 Korea after a dramatic penalty shootout.

In the two official halves, Quoc Viet and Dinh Bac were the scorers who helped their team take the lead twice, but both were equalized by the opponent in the final minutes of the match.

In the 2 extra periods, although playing with one less player due to Dinh Bac receiving a red card, U23 Vietnam still excellently drew with the opponent to enter the penalty shootout. Here, goalkeeper Cao Van Binh saved 1 shot from U23 Korea, thereby helping U23 Vietnam win 7-6 to rank 3rd overall.

Previously, in the semi-finals, U23 Vietnam unfortunately lost 0-3 to U23 China, thereby missing the opportunity to repeat the Changzhou 2018 miracle. This is also the only defeat of U23 Vietnam at this year's AFC U23 Championship.

However, the bronze medal after the victory against U23 Korea helped coach Kim Sang-sik's team close a memorable season.

To reach this milestone, U23 Vietnam also went through a stable journey right from the group stage. In the opening match, the team defeated U23 Jordan with a score of 2-0. Dinh Bac made his mark with an important goal, helping U23 Vietnam control the game before Hieu Minh was the one who sealed the victory.

In the 2nd match, U23 Vietnam won 2-1 against U23 Kyrgyzstan. Khuat Van Khang successfully converted a penalty, the remaining goal came from an opponent's own goal after Le Van Thuan's pressured header.

In the last group stage match, U23 Vietnam faced U23 Saudi Arabia - the host team of the tournament. Under great pressure from the audience and opponents, U23 Vietnam still played solidly and waited for opportunities. Dinh Bac continued to speak up with the only goal of the match, bringing a 1-0 victory for the "Golden Star Warriors".

This result helped U23 Vietnam close the group stage with a perfect record, while creating positive psychological momentum before the knockout round.

Entering the quarter-finals, U23 Vietnam faced U23 UAE in a dramatic match. The West Asian team possesses superior physique and fitness, causing a lot of pressure throughout the match. However, U23 Vietnam still showed effectiveness in decisive situations.

Le Phat, Dinh Bac and Minh Phuc respectively scored goals to help the team win 3-2 after 90 tense minutes. This match showed the good adaptability of U23 Vietnam in the face of changes in the game.

From the group stage to the quarter-finals, semi-finals and third-place play-offs, U23 Vietnam, although at times weakened, still strived to maintain their playing style and resilient fighting spirit. Goals scored from many different positions show diversity and efficiency.