U.23 Vietnam is extremely 'cool': 9 players scored, each match a hero

Van Thuan has become the 9th player of U.23 Vietnam to score in just the last 6 matches under coach Kim Sang-sik.

Important victory of U.23 Vietnam

Vietnam U23 extended their winning streak in the 2026 AFC U23 Championship qualifiers, beating Singapore U23 1-0 in the second match, which took place on the evening of September 6 at Viet Tri Stadium ( Phu Tho province).

Le Van Thuan's only goal in the 79th minute helped coach Kim Sang-sik's team gain 6 points after 2 matches, with a goal difference of +3, maintaining the top spot in the group. U.23 Yemen also beat U.23 Bangladesh 1-0 thanks to a goal in the 90+4 minute to also maintain 6 points after 2 matches, but ranked behind due to only a goal difference of +2.

Le Van Thuan shines

PHOTO: MINH TU

Although the hard-fought victory over the youngest U.23 Singapore team in many years cannot be considered a success for U.23 Vietnam, at least coach Kim and his team won. Just win first, then look back at the shortcomings in the playing style to improve. That is a common thing in youth football.

However, there were still bright spots in the hard-fought victory of U.23 Vietnam. The important goal scorer for coach Kim Sang-sik was Van Thuan, who received the award for the best young player of the V-League last season. Van Thuan was eliminated by Mr. Kim from U.23 Vietnam before the 2025 U.23 Southeast Asia tournament due to not meeting the professional standards. However, due to Thanh Nhan's injury, Van Thuan was called back.

In the U.23 Southeast Asia tournament, Van Thuan only came on the bench and did not show much, but he was still given more opportunities in the U.23 Asia qualifiers. And then, the midfielder of Thanh Hoa Club responded to the trust of coach Kim Sang-sik, with a golden goal to bring U.23 Vietnam back on track.

What is special is that Van Thuan is the 9th player to score for U.23 Vietnam after only 6 recent matches. Under coach Kim Sang-sik, the list of goalscorers includes Dinh Bac, Hieu Minh, Van Khang, Ly Duc, Xuan Bac, Cong Phuong, Ngoc My, Le Viktor and now Van Thuan. Of which, only Dinh Bac and Hieu Minh scored 2 goals, the remaining players all scored 1 goal.

Coach Kim Sang-sik has many "cannons" in his hands.

PHOTO: MINH TU

U.23 Vietnam is about to have... a whole squad that knows how to score goals, with everyone from the center backs, midfielders to strikers having contributed to the goals. This is an unprecedented number of players who have scored goals.

U.23 Vietnam had a period of success under coach Park Hang-seo, winning the SEA Games in 2019 and 2022, but the list of goalscorers was not as diverse as it is now.

Van Thuan scored a precious goal, U.23 Vietnam struggled to beat Singapore

Mr. Kim's plan

U.23 Vietnam has not been able to find a classy and versatile center forward, when the strikers in Mr. Kim's hands such as Dinh Bac, Quoc Viet... only play supporting roles at the club.

Coach Kim Sang-sik cannot bring forwards from the national team to play for the U.23 team like his predecessor Park Hang-seo did with Cong Phuong and Tien Linh. The "ingredients" in hand are only that, forcing Mr. Kim to have a different strategy.

The Korean strategist is doing well, when he diversifies his scoring sources. For example, in the matches against U.23 Bangladesh and U.23 Singapore, although Dinh Bac is a center forward, he often drops deep to develop the ball, playing the role of "decoy" attracting people, opening up space for defenders and midfielders to penetrate.

Dinh Bac was pulled back to participate in building the game.

PHOTO: MINH TU

Although U.23 Vietnam still hastily finished, wasting many opportunities (even unluckily hitting the crossbar and post 5 times), it is important to note that coach Kim Sang-sik's students found many ways to pass and coordinate attacks such as attacking on the wing, arranging in the middle, second line...

Mr. Kim encourages the center backs, full backs or midfielders to penetrate the penalty area, thinking of finding space to be ready to take the role of the finisher. In the match against U.23 Singapore, even the center backs who rarely push up like Nhat Minh and Duc Anh also had the opportunity to shoot from afar.

With "firepower" coming from all sides, Coach Kim Sang-sik is turning U.23 Vietnam into a flexible, hard-to-predict team. The important thing is whether Mr. Kim's students can overcome their own limits to become stronger.

In the final match against U.23 Yemen at 7:00 p.m. on September 9, will there be another hero speaking up to bring U.23 Vietnam to the Asian finals?

Watch live and complete Group C - 2026 AFC U23 Championship Qualifiers onFPT Play, at: http://fptplay.vn

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/u23-viet-nam-cuc-chat-9-cau-thu-ghi-ban-moi-tran-mot-nguoi-hung-185250907030023923.htm