U.23 Vietnam wins 2 consecutive matches: Big advantage before 'group final'

The best young player of the V-League 2024 - 2025 season, Le Van Thuan, became the hero of U.23 Vietnam when he scored the only goal to help the home team beat Singapore 1-0.

T CHANGE HAS NOT BEEN EFFECTIVE

In the match of the second round of Group C of the 2026 AFC U23 Championship qualifiers against U23 Singapore at Viet Tri Stadium ( Phu Tho ) yesterday, September 6, Coach Kim Sang-sik made many changes in the starting lineup of U23 Vietnam. Compared to the opening match against U23 Bangladesh, key players such as central defender Pham Ly Duc, midfielder Nguyen Xuan Bac, and two wingers Vo Anh Quan and Nguyen Phi Hoang were kept on the bench. In particular, Le Viktor was arranged by the Korean coach to play as a striker next to Nguyen Dinh Bac and Nguyen Cong Phuong.

Le Van Thang scored for U.23 Vietnam

U.23 Vietnam (right) has a big advantage in the race with U.23 Yemen

PHOTO: MINH TU

However, it can be said that the new personnel plan of Mr. Kim Sang-sik could not bring success to U.23 Vietnam in the first half, at least in terms of score (0-0 draw). Although U.23 Vietnam completely controlled the game, had superior ball possession time, it was not effective in the attack. U.23 Vietnam players had many opportunities to finish, but the accuracy was not high. Bad passes also appeared more often in the coordination of Mr. Kim's students. However, the fact that U.23 Vietnam could not score in the first half was partly due to bad luck, and the objective factor was that U.23 Singapore played well. Le Viktor cushioned the ball from close range, hitting the post in the 33rd minute. This Vietnamese-American player also turned and fired a very beautiful shot at the end of the first half, but the Singapore goalkeeper made a miraculous save.

Coach Pham Minh Duc commented: "The U.23 Singapore team has a disciplined and well-organized playing style. Therefore, breaking through the away team's defense is not a simple task for U.23 Vietnam. The U.23 Singapore defense system maintains a very stable number of players and keeps the formation distance. The U.23 Singapore midfield plays with determination, sticks closely and closes quickly, so the U.23 Vietnam players do not have much time to handle it. The problem of Mr. Kim Sang-sik's students is the ability to finish, especially one-touch finishing. However, U.23 Vietnam still has situations that they have done well. The most important factor for young players is mentality, it is inevitable to be impatient. If they were luckier and had a goal for U.23 Vietnam, the situation would have been different, when the players played more confidently."

MR . KIM "HAVE A COOL HAND"

The U.23 Vietnam team's play improved in the second half when coach Kim Sang-sik changed the attacking personnel. The players who played well in the match against U.23 Bangladesh were strikers Nguyen Thanh Nhan, Nguyen Phi Hoang and the best young player of the V-League 2024 - 2025 season, Le Van Thuan, who were given confidence. The U.23 Vietnam team's attacking moves became sharper and faster. And it can be said that Mr. Kim's substitution decisions brought great efficiency, helping the golden star team win all 3 points to give to the audience at Viet Tri Stadium.

Nguyen Thanh Nhan left his mark with two shots, especially the one that hit the crossbar in the 68th minute. Meanwhile, Le Van Thuan knew how to take advantage of the opportunity to score points with Mr. Kim. He played aggressively and shone with a tricky header that scored, helping U.23 VN break the deadlock at the end of the match. It was Phi Hoang who created the assist with an accurate cross into the penalty area for Van Thuan to score.

U.23 team thanks the audience

In the early match of Group C taking place in the afternoon of the same day, U.23 Yemen won a dramatic victory over U.23 Bangladesh with a score of 1-0 thanks to a goal scored in extra time. Thus, after 2 rounds, U.23 Vietnam holds the top position in Group C with 6 points, goal difference +3. U.23 Yemen also has 6 points but is ranked second, goal difference +2. With this situation, the match in the last round on September 9 between U.23 Vietnam and U.23 Yemen will be the "final" match of Group C. Coach Kim Sang-sik's team holds a big advantage, as they only need to draw with U.23 Yemen to win a direct ticket to the 2026 AFC U23 Championship taking place in Saudi Arabia next year.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/u23-viet-nam-thang-2-tran-lien-tiep-loi-the-lon-truoc-chung-ket-bang-18525090622250193.htm