Vietnam U23 produced a strong performance against Kuwait, controlling much of the match, creating clear opportunities and, crucially, preventing their West Asian opponents from playing the game they wanted.

Judged purely on the balance of play, there was plenty to satisfy Vietnam supporters. The frustration came in front of goal, where Dinh Hong Vinh's players failed to turn their opportunities into enough goals.

Vietnam created chances but lacked sharpness in the decisive moments. On several occasions, one more decisive touch, a more accurate shot or a better final choice might have produced a goal.

It is not a problem that has emerged only at these Asian Games.

At the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup earlier this year, Vietnam also showed an ability to play attractive and effective football, but their finishing did not always reflect the number of chances they created. Dinh Bac's individual brilliance helped solve that problem on several occasions.

The Philippines match therefore offers Vietnam an opportunity to improve their efficiency in front of goal and for their forwards to rediscover confidence and precision.

That issue was a major focus when the squad returned to training on Sept. 16 following the disappointing 1-1 draw with Kuwait.

The session took place in difficult weather, with rain leaving the pitch wet, but the players maintained their concentration and completed the coaching staff's planned work.

Coach Dinh Hong Vinh continued reviewing areas requiring improvement, particularly chance conversion and finishing efficiency. The players were also told to maintain their focus and prepare physically and mentally for their next match.

More than a finishing problem

Vietnam's defense appeared to have a relatively comfortable outing against Kuwait, who did not apply sustained pressure. But that should not be mistaken for a flawless defensive performance.

Kuwait still created around three clear opportunities, with goalkeeper Cao Van Binh making important interventions before Vietnam eventually conceded from a set piece.

More concerning was that those opportunities were not necessarily produced by an especially sophisticated Kuwaiti attack. Most came from Vietnamese mistakes or brief lapses in concentration.

Against weaker opponents, or teams unable to capitalize on those openings, such errors may amount to little more than warnings. Against stronger opposition, they can quickly become goals.

Vietnam therefore need to address more than their shooting. Maintaining defensive concentration throughout matches will become increasingly important as the tournament progresses.

The Philippines game is particularly significant in Group C.

After the opening round, Uzbekistan hold the early advantage following a 5-1 victory over the Philippines, while Vietnam and Kuwait have one point each.

A positive result against the Philippines would strengthen Vietnam's position before their final group match against Uzbekistan.

Vietnam are gradually settling into the tournament and working to correct the shortcomings exposed in their opener. The immediate objective is victory when they face the Philippines on Sept. 18 at Nagoya City Minato Stadium.

The Kuwait performance suggested Vietnam have the ability to build strong passages of play and potentially go beyond their stated target of reaching the quarterfinals.

But stronger opponents will offer fewer chances and punish mistakes more severely. Before Vietnam can think about how far they might go at these Asian Games, they need to solve the seemingly small problems that proved anything but insignificant in the frustrating draw with Kuwait.

Duy Nguyen - Dai Nam