Thanh Nhan scores a classy goal, U.23 Vietnam beats Yemen: VFF rewards big for Asian golden ticket

Despite facing many difficulties against the U.23 Yemen defense, U.23 Vietnam still has individuals who know how to shine at the right time to bring about an important victory, thereby winning a ticket to the 2026 AFC U.23 Championship.

Thanh Nhan shines at the right time, U.23 Vietnam wins ticket to U.23 Asia Finals 2026

Coach Kim Sang-sik released a 'strange' starting lineup

At 7:00 p.m. on September 9, the U.23 Vietnam team faced U.23 Yemen in the final match of Group C of the 2026 AFC U-23 Championship qualifiers. This is a decisive match for the ticket to the final round and both teams are very determined. U.23 Vietnam has a slight advantage as it has a better goal difference and is ranked above Yemen, as well as receiving the support of the home crowd. Coach Kim Sang-sik and his team only need a draw to qualify, but the home team certainly wants to do more than that.

U.23 Vietnam aims for at least a draw

PHOTO: MINH TU

Meanwhile, U.23 Yemen must win to be able to continue.

PHOTO: MINH TU

The Korean strategist surprised everyone by fielding a lineup with many changes. Quoc Viet and Ngoc My started the game while Van Truong and Dinh Bac were on the bench. Notably, Dinh Bac was a player who almost always started from the start from the U.23 Southeast Asian tournament to the Asian tournament.

The match started at a slow pace. U.23 Vietnam entered the match quite leisurely, controlling the ball and dominating the game. U.23 Yemen also did not risk attacking early and played defensively, waiting for a counter-attack opportunity.

Fans came to Viet Tri Stadium ( Phu Tho ) to cheer for U.23 Vietnam in large numbers.

PHOTO: MINH TU

Head coach of U.23 Yemen

PHOTO: MINH TU

Despite creating some dangerous chances, the home team's strikers were unable to make a difference as the Yemen U.23 defense defended tightly and cleared the danger in time. Coach Kim Sang-sik's players looked for opportunities from set pieces but were unable to break through the visitors' solid defense.

Most notably, in the 20th minute, Quoc Viet fell in the U.23 Yemen penalty area and signaled a foul but the referee let the match continue.

Quoc Viet was selected to play as a starter.

PHOTO: MINH TU

Xuan Bac continues to participate in the most important match at Viet Tri home stadium.

PHOTO: MINH TU

In the 39th minute, coach Kim Sang-sik made three substitutions. Dinh Bac, Thanh Nhan and Van Thuan were sent onto the field to replace Quoc Viet, Van Khang and Ngoc My in the hope of creating a new breeze in the attack.

Dinh Bac was brought onto the field in the 39th minute.

PHOTO: MINH TU

The first half ended without any goals. U23 Yemen focused all their efforts on defense, hoping for set pieces or mistakes from U23 Vietnam to be able to counterattack. In the last minute of extra time, goalkeeper Trung Kien made an excellent save for U.23 Vietnam when a U.23 Yemen player shot very hard from close range but Trung Kien successfully blocked it.

U.23 Vietnam has done more than "a minimal draw"

U.23 Yemen played proactively from the beginning of the second half, determined to find a goal because only a win would help them qualify for the next round. They had more attacks than in the first half but overall still maintained a stable defensive position. Meanwhile, Dinh Bac continued to show his aggressiveness and constantly tried to create breakthroughs against the opponent's tight defense.

The game in the first half of the second half did not change much compared to the first half, U.23 Vietnam still dominated the game. However, coach Kim Sang-sik's team has not found a sharp attacking plan, other than passing the ball from the two wings. In the 69th minute, fans at Viet Tri Stadium had a heart-stopping moment when Hieu Minh mishandled the ball in the home team's field. Luckily for U.23 Vietnam, the ball drifted too deep compared to the movement of the U.23 Yemen striker.

In the 65th minute, in a corner kick situation, the goalkeeper and defender of U.23 Yemen did not understand each other, but unfortunately, no player of U.23 Vietnam was present to take advantage of this opportunity. However, the fans at Viet Tri Stadium did not have to wait long to celebrate. In the 70th minute, Van T Nhuan had a sharp pass, helping Thanh Nhan penetrate into the penalty area, before decisively shooting the ball into the far corner of the away team's goal, opening the score for U.23 Vietnam. For the third consecutive time, a substitute player scored, showing the reasonable substitution of coach Kim.

Thanh Nhan's impressive return

PHOTO: MINH TU

The joy of the U.23 Vietnam players

PHOTO: MINH TU

In the remaining minutes, the away team pushed forward to find an equalizer, but their efforts only created a few not-so-dangerous situations in front of goalkeeper Trung Kien's goal. 1-0 was the final score of the match. The victory with the minimum score was more than enough to help U.23 Vietnam win a ticket to the U.23 Finals held in Saudi Arabia next year. This victory also marked the impressive return of striker Thanh Nhan - who was previously absent from the U.23 Southeast Asian Championship 2025 due to injury.

VFF President Tran Quoc Tuan affirmed that the continuous participation in the final round from 2016 to now, including the runner-up position in 2018, is a clear proof of the investment and correct orientation in developing youth football in Vietnam. The VFF President was delighted that U.23 Vietnam won a ticket to the final round of the U.23 Asian Cup for the sixth time.

Thanhnien.vn

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/thanh-nhan-ghi-ban-dang-cap-u23-viet-nam-thang-yemen-vff-thuong-lon-vi-tam-ve-vang-chau-a-185250909205237309.htm