In the penalty shootout on the evening of 23/1, both teams were closely matched, successfully converted their first six attempts. In the 7th round, goalkeeper Cao Van Binh blocked a shot from Bae Hyun-seo. Seizing the opportunity, striker Nguyen Thanh Nhan scored the decisive penalty, bringing victory to Vietnam.

Nguyen Thai Quoc Cuong (right) presses an opponent during Vietnam's win over South Korea in the U23 Asian third-place play-off at King Abdullah Sports City Hall, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on 23/1/2026. Photo: AFC

Before this match, Vietnam had never defeated South Korea at the U23 level in any competition. The two teams had met nine times, including six official matches and three friendlies, resulting in three draws and six losses for Vietnam. Even in recent tournaments, despite the improving skill gap, Vietnam had not been able to overcome their East Asian rivals.

History also did not favor Vietnam in continental third-place play-offs. From a 2-4 loss to Japan at the U16 Asian championship in 2000 to a defeat against UAE in a penalty shootout at Asiad 18 in 2018, Vietnam had always failed to secure third place. Therefore, the victory over South Korea helped Kim Sang-sik's team break two historical jinxes for national football.

In this match, Vietnam faced several squad disadvantages. Center-back Nguyen Hieu Minh was out with a ligament injury, while Pham Ly Duc faced suspension. Compared to an opponent with a higher squad value and superior squad depth, Vietnam was once again considered the underdog.

However, coach Kim Sang-sik's team played disciplined, capitalizing on counter-attacking opportunities. The team took the lead in the first half thanks to a shot by Nguyen Quoc Viet that found the back of the net, from an assist by Nguyen Dinh Bac. In the second half, both teams exchanged attacks. Just two minutes after Kim Tae-won equalized, Dinh Bac scored a stunning free-kick to restore Vietnam's 2-1 lead.

However, Dinh Bac turned from hero to villain when he received a red card for fouling an opponent in the 86th minute, leaving his team with 10 men. With Vietnam moments away from victory in regular time, South Korea equalized 2-2.

Two periods of extra time saw intense pressure from South Korea, with numerous lofted crosses and close-range shots. Goalkeeper Van Binh proved a crucial presence, helping Vietnam hold firm and force a penalty shootout, where he emerged as the hero in his sole start of the tournament.

Statistics highlighted South Korea's attacking dominance, with 32 shots to 5, 12 shots on target to 3, 898 passes to 299, and 9 corners to none. However, South Korea also committed significantly more fouls, 23 compared to Vietnam's 5.

With the bronze medal, Vietnam became the sixth Asian team to earn two medals in this tournament, after Japan, Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and Iraq. Even footballing powerhouses like Qatar, Australia, and Jordan have only one U23 Asian medal each. Vietnam's first medal came in 2018 when they lost 1-2 to Uzbekistan in the final match.

Xuan Binh