In the 30th minute of the semi-final 2 of the 2026 AFC U23 Championship between U23 Vietnam and U23 China on the evening of January 20 (Vietnam time), center-back Hieu Minh was injured after a challenge when he unsuccessfully landed.
This player showed clear signs of pain in the knee area, could not continue playing and had to rely on the support of the medical team. After that, coach Kim Sang-sik decided to put Duc Anh in to replace him.
According to initial observations, Hieu Minh suffered an injury after a knee twist, raising concerns about the possibility of ligament damage. However, the specific extent still needs to wait for the detailed medical examination results after the match.
Hieu Minh's injury is a significant loss for U23 Vietnam, because this midfielder played actively from the beginning of the match, making a great contribution to supporting defense and switching positions against U23 China.
Previously, Hieu Minh himself had a timely retreat to clear the ball in the penalty area, helping his team avoid a dangerous situation.
Currently, U23 Vietnam is waiting for an official assessment from the medical department to determine Hieu Minh's condition, in the context that the team aims to win a ticket to the final of the 2026 AFC U23 Championship.
