Before the confrontation with U23 Vietnam, the young team from the populous country made a strong impression when it was the only team in the group of 4 strongest teams in the tournament that had not conceded a goal. That achievement continued to be maintained after the semi-final match held on the evening of January 20.
In the first half, U23 China played solidly, disciplinedly and controlled the game well. The turning point came at the beginning of the second half when they continuously scored from set pieces and finished effectively, while the U23 Vietnam defense no longer maintained the necessary concentration.
The 3-0 victory not only helped U23 China reach the final of the AFC U23 Championship for the first time in history, but also extended their clean sheet streak to 5. Previously, they drew with U23 Iraq 0-0, won against U23 Australia 1-0, drew with U23 Thailand 0-0 in the group stage and defeated U23 Uzbekistan after a penalty shootout in the quarter-finals (0-0 draw after 120 minutes).
Goalkeeper Li Hao continues to be a reliable stopper for U23 China. This goalkeeper made many important saves against U23 Vietnam, contributing to maintaining the team's goalless record.
With a solid defense and disciplined play, U23 China is considered a strong candidate for the championship, when entering the 2026 AFC U23 Championship final against U23 Japan.
