U23 Vietnam took a huge step toward the knockout rounds of the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 with a tense 2-1 win over Kyrgyzstan on January 9. With six points after two matches, coach Kim Sang Sik’s team now need only a draw against hosts Saudi Arabia in the final group game to seal top spot in Group A.

The match, played at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, saw Kyrgyzstan start aggressively, pressing high and forcing Vietnam onto the back foot. For the first 15 minutes, the Central Asian side dominated possession and territory, testing Vietnam’s defense early.

However, momentum shifted in the 18th minute. Le Phat, one of Vietnam’s most impressive young talents, won a penalty after drawing a foul from Mirzalimi Uulu in the box. Team captain Khuat Van Khang converted coolly from the spot to give Vietnam the lead.

The goal helped settle the nerves of the Vietnamese side, who began to find their rhythm. But a costly mistake on the stroke of halftime saw center-back Hieu Minh misplace a pass near his box, allowing Murzakhmatov to strike from distance and level the score for Kyrgyzstan at 1-1.

Coach Kim Sang Sik made a series of tactical substitutions in the second half, bringing on Dinh Bac, Van Thuan, and Quoc Cuong in the 63rd minute. These changes revitalized Vietnam’s attack and set the stage for a dramatic finish.

In the 87th minute, Dinh Bac delivered a pinpoint corner to Ly Duc on the right. The defender controlled and crossed into the box, where Van Thuan’s header forced Kyrgyz defender Khristiyan Brauzman into an own goal. The late breakthrough handed Vietnam a vital 2-1 victory and sparked wild celebrations.

The match was also marked by a bizarre and rarely seen incident in the 84th minute. During a duel on the right flank, Kyrgyzstan’s Bekberdinov yanked the captain’s armband off Đình Bắc’s arm in an act of frustration and was promptly booked by the referee for unsporting behavior.

FIFA and AFC took notice of Vietnam’s growing momentum. FIFA’s World Cup fanpage posted a celebratory image of Van Thuan’s goal celebration, comparing it to Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham. Meanwhile, the AFC Asian Cup social media account posted a subtle but impactful message: “Say it with pride,” along with images of Vietnam’s players in jubilation.

This victory marked Vietnam’s first-ever win over a Central Asian team at the U23 Asian Cup finals. Previously, they had fallen to Uzbekistan twice, including in the 2018 final. The result also means Vietnam have opened a U23 Asian Cup group stage campaign with two consecutive wins for only the second time in their history.

Despite not scoring, Le Phat was named Vietnam’s standout performer for his relentless energy and ability to earn the penalty that led to the opening goal. In contrast, striker Quoc Viet struggled in his starting debut, failing to impact the game before being substituted in the second half.

Van Khang, who captained the team until being replaced by Dinh Bac, also drew praise for his leadership and attacking presence. His replacement, Dinh Bac, played a decisive role with his corner delivery that led to the winning goal. Van Thuan, though initially believing he had scored, laughed off the moment after the match, saying, “I thought I scored, but it's okay. All that matters is that we won.”

In his post-match comments, coach Kim Sang Sik praised his players’ fighting spirit but admitted the performance was not perfect. “Kyrgyzstan pushed hard because they had to win. We had some difficulties but remained focused until the end. The players deserve this win,” he said.

The Korean tactician also hinted at possible squad rotation for the final match against Saudi Arabia, depending on the outcome of the Jordan vs. Kyrgyzstan clash.

Kyrgyzstan’s head coach Edmar Lacerda accepted the result, saying, “Vietnam were well-organized and deserved the win. We lost concentration at key moments, and that made the difference.”

With six points, U23 Vietnam top Group A ahead of Jordan and Saudi Arabia, who are tied on three points. A draw against the hosts on January 12 will guarantee Vietnam a place in the quarterfinals as group winners. Even in the event of a loss, several tiebreaking scenarios still favor Vietnam’s advancement.

After two consecutive victories, U23 Vietnam are not only making headlines for their results, but also for the discipline, tactical awareness, and character they are showing on the continental stage — qualities that suggest this could be their most promising U23 Asian Cup campaign yet.

Thien Binh - Dai Nam