In the early morning of January 21, after the defeat of U23 Vietnam against U23 China in the semi-finals of the AFC U23 Championship, the atmosphere on many central roads in Hanoi was still filled with the red flag with a yellow star.
Although the team could not win the right to play in the final, a large number of fans still took to the streets, carrying national flags and banners, expressing their love and constant companionship with the young players.
The defeat made many people unable to hide their sadness. The feeling of disappointment was like the defeat of U23 Vietnam in the U23 Asian Championship final in Changzhou (China) 8 years ago.
However, most fans share the view that U23 Vietnam played hard and dedicated themselves to the colors of the flag.
Mr. Nguyen Van Quan (35 years old, Cau Giay ward), a fan who fully watched the team's journey at the tournament, shared: "Everyone is sad after the match, but looking at the way the players fought, I cannot blame them. The players tried until the last minutes, ran, collided and did not give up. For me, that is commendable.
Ms. Tran Thu Huong (30 years old, Yen Hoa ward) said that she still immersed herself in the crowd on many streets even though the match result was not as expected.
Feeling like 2018, sad but also very sorry for the team. Football is like that, not always winning. The important thing is that you have brought faith and pride to fans," Ms. Huong said.
The defeat against U23 China means that U23 Vietnam will enter the third-place match against U23 Korea.
Many fans affirmed that they will continue to follow, cheer and fuel coach Kim Sang-sik and his team until the final match of the tournament.
Mr. Le Hoang Nam (Ha Dong ward) affirmed that he would not turn his back when the team lost the match. According to him, at this time, young players need even more encouragement and encouragement from fans.
The third-place match is very important, not only the ranking but also the bravery. I believe if we are confident and have a good spirit, U23 Vietnam will play a fair match" - Mr. Nam said.
Although the journey at this AFC U23 Championship for U23 Vietnam is not complete, the fighting spirit and attachment between the team and the fans are considered bright spots.
With the wholehearted support from the audience, the young players will have more motivation to aim for the final match with the best mindset, bringing medals to the Fatherland.
