U23 Vietnam coach: 'Players advised me to wear black for better luck'

Coach Dinh Hong Vinh believes offensive efforts combined with luck helped Vietnam defeat the Philippines 2-0 in their second Group C match, improving their chances of reaching the ASIAD 2026 quarterfinals.

U23 Vietnam secured a crucial 2-0 victory over the Philippines in their second Group C match at ASIAD 2026 on 18/9/2026, significantly boosting their chances of reaching the quarterfinals. Coach Dinh Hong Vinh attributed the win to a combination of offensive efforts and a touch of fortune, a factor he and his team had been keenly aware of after a frustrating draw in their opening game.

The match, held at Nagoya Minato stadium in Japan, saw Vietnam dominate with 67% possession and 16 shots, three times more than their opponent. This strong performance echoed their previous outing on 15/9, where they drew 1-1 with Kuwait despite hitting the crossbar and post four times. The persistent bad luck prompted a unique suggestion from his players: "After witnessing Vietnam's lack of luck against Kuwait, some players advised me to wear a black shirt for better fortune," Coach Vinh shared.

Coach Vinh, born in 1974, embraced the idea, noting, "I agreed to follow their advice and indeed felt luckier. However, football involves many factors. Luck must go hand in hand with 90 minutes of effort to achieve desired results." This sentiment underscored the team's determination to overcome challenges, particularly against a Philippines side that adopted a defensive "parking the bus" strategy.

Coach Dinh Hong Vinh at a press conference after Vietnam's 2-0 victory over the Philippines in their second Group C match of men's football at ASIAD 2026, held at Nagoya Minato stadium, Japan on 18/9/2026. Photo: Hoang Ho

The deadlock was finally broken in the 74th minute. Center-back Nguyen Duc Anh delivered a long ball behind the Philippines' defense, which Nguyen Thanh Nhan capitalized on amid opponent miscommunication. He skillfully finished over goalkeeper Nicholas Guimaraes, opening the scoring and relieving considerable pressure on the team. Coach Vinh confirmed that halftime adjustments, focusing on encouraging more attacking movement and passes behind the defenders, proved effective.

Vietnam extended their lead in the 87th minute. Following a combination play by Nguyen Xuan Bac and Nguyen Ngoc My, Nguyen Le Phat, born in 2007, received the ball in the penalty area. His initial shot struck both the post and the crossbar, but he quickly followed up, heading the rebound into the empty net. This goal marked a turn in fortune for Phat, who had experienced similar bad luck against Kuwait, hitting the woodwork and having a close-range shot saved by the goalkeeper. Earlier, Vietnam also narrowly avoided conceding when Santiago Rublico shot wide of an open goal, two minutes before Phat's strike.

This victory gives Vietnam 4 points, temporarily placing them at the top of Group C. However, this position is likely to change as Uzbekistan is expected to defeat Kuwait in the other group match. If Uzbekistan wins, they will secure a spot in the quarterfinals regardless of their final match result against Vietnam on 22/9. In that scenario, Vietnam will only need to avoid a loss to advance to the next round.

Looking ahead, Coach Dinh Hong Vinh emphasized the immediate task of player recovery. The coaching staff will then conduct a thorough analysis of their next opponent. "Uzbekistan is well-trained, with good technique and physical conditioning," Coach Vinh stated. "This U23 generation has met Uzbekistan many times in friendly tournaments in China and official competitions, so they will be well-prepared for this encounter."