Lao Dong's record at Nguyen Hue pedestrian street, when the ball began to roll, a large number of people gathered to watch the match through large LED screens. The street space was bright red with the national flag and U23 Vietnam jersey, creating a vibrant and emotional atmosphere.
In the first half, U23 Vietnam scored the opening goal 1-0, the entire pedestrian street area burst into tears. Thousands of fans simultaneously cheered, applauded, and many people hugged each other in indescribable joy.
The festival atmosphere was pushed to a climax when just a few minutes later, U23 Vietnam escaped a penalty situation by a hair's breadth, making fans' hearts skip a beat and then burst into relief.
Functional forces are deployed throughout the area to ensure security and order, regulate traffic, and create conditions for people to watch the match safely. Many families and groups of young people choose Nguyen Hue pedestrian street as a meeting point, sharing their feelings in each dramatic ball phase.
Mr. Tran Quoc Huy (Binh Trung ward) said that he almost held his breath when U23 Korea was awarded a penalty, but then felt relieved when U23 Vietnam escaped this situation. “At that time everyone was worried, when the referee canceled the penalty situation, the whole pedestrian street cheered as if they had just scored another goal. The 1-0 lead helped U23 Vietnam play much more confidently,” Mr. Huy shared.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Trang (resident of Xom Chieu ward) said that she clearly felt the courageous fighting spirit of the young Vietnamese players.
U23 Vietnam played very focused, not at all discouraged against a strong opponent like South Korea. The early goal and penalty situation showed the bravery of the whole team. I believe the players will continue to maintain this spirit," Ms. Trang said.
U23 Vietnam leading against a strong opponent along with a dramatic escape has added great faith to fans. Amidst the incessant cheers, the audience believes that the Vietnamese youth team will preserve their advantage, closing the journey of the 2026 AFC U23 Championship with a complete and proud result.
