Vietnam’s U17 national team was held to a goalless draw by Kyrgyzstan U17 in their opening match of the 2025 AFC U17 Asian Cup qualifiers, which took place at Phu Tho Stadium at 7:00 PM.
The early 6-1 victory by Yemen U17 over Myanmar U17 in the same group added pressure on Vietnam’s squad. Coach Cristiano Roland’s team needed a win against Kyrgyzstan to match Yemen’s points after the first round of games.
However, Kyrgyzstan U17 proved to be a tough opponent. The Central Asian team has improved significantly, and recent matches between Vietnam and Kyrgyzstan at the senior and U23 levels have not resulted in victories for Vietnam.
In the match at Phu Tho Stadium, despite having more possession, Vietnam U17 struggled to break down Kyrgyzstan’s well-organized defense. In the 17th minute, the home defense made a misjudgment, allowing Alisherov to get through, but his shot went off target.
The remainder of the first half was a midfield battle, with both teams fiercely contesting for control. Vietnam U17 tried to build up play from the back, but as they approached Kyrgyzstan’s defensive third, Nguyen Van Bach and his teammates found it difficult to penetrate the opponent’s solid defense. The attacking efforts of Vietnam were neutralized by Kyrgyzstan’s strong individual duels and solid defensive coverage.
On the other side, Kyrgyzstan U17 troubled Vietnam with their long throw-ins into the penalty area, making it hard for the hosts to handle.
After a goalless first half, Vietnam U17 increased their attacking efforts in the second half. In the 56th minute, Nguyen Luc fired a dangerous shot from outside the box, but it went wide. Eight minutes later, Van Duong tried a curling effort, but the Kyrgyz goalkeeper was able to keep it out.
Vietnam continued to press for a goal, pouring more players forward in the last 20 minutes. However, Kyrgyzstan’s disciplined defensive setup frustrated the home side, preventing them from even getting close to the penalty box. In the 93rd minute, Tran Gia Bao’s shot narrowly missed the post from the edge of the box, sealing a disappointing outcome for Vietnam.
With no breakthrough in sight, the match ended in a 0-0 draw, leaving Vietnam in second place in the group standings. Their next match is scheduled for 7:00 PM on October 25, where they will face Myanmar U17.
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