Chengdu, 15 November 2025 – Despite a heavily-rotated lineup and a strong second-half push, U22 Vietnam could not find an equaliser and suffered a 0-1 defeat to U22 Uzbekistan in their second match at the CFA Team China – Panda Cup 2025.
U22 Vietnam faced U22 Uzbekistan in their second match at the CFA Team China – Panda Cup 2025 with a significantly changed starting lineup. Interim coach Dinh Hong Vinh rotated almost the entire squad, keeping only a few core players from the previous win over China — the defensive trio Hieu Minh, Nhat Minh, Ly Duc, along with captain Van Truong.
In goal, Trung Kien replaced Cao Van Binh, while both wing-backs were refreshed with Phi Hoang on the left and Minh Phuc on the right. In midfield, Quoc Cuong stepped in for the injured Xuan Bac, partnering with Van Truong. Up front, Dinh Bac led the line, supported by Van Thuan on the right and Le Viktor on the left.
Playing under sunny conditions at 14:30 Vietnam time — the first early-afternoon match of the tournament — U22 Vietnam were caught off guard. In the 4th minute, Karimov Behruzion delivered a cross from the right for Khamidov Saidkhon to finish clinically, giving Uzbekistan an early 1-0 lead.
With momentum from their win against China and needing points after losing to Korea Republic in the opening match, Uzbekistan continued to press aggressively, attacking strongly down both wings. Vietnam struggled to settle into the game, and despite seven new starters, their first real chance only came in the 24th minute when Dinh Bac fired wide.
The pressure continued, and in the 30th minute, Uzbekistan nearly doubled their lead from a dangerous free-kick that struck the crossbar. Goalkeeper Trung Kien produced one excellent save later in the half to keep Vietnam in the match. Before halftime, Vietnam had a golden chance through Dinh Bac after a cross from Le Viktor, but his left-footed shot missed narrowly.
Entering the second half, U22 Vietnam immediately showed more urgency. From a Quoc Cuong free-kick, Van Thuan rose for a powerful header, but the finish drifted just wide. Coach Dinh Hong Vinh then made early changes, bringing on Thanh Nhan, Thai Son, and Anh Quan, which noticeably improved ball circulation and attacking tempo.
Thanh Nhan soon had a clear opportunity after a series of quick passing combinations, but his low diagonal shot was denied by the Uzbekistan goalkeeper. However, Vietnam continued to face difficulty breaking through a compact and disciplined defence — a recurring challenge historically when facing Uzbekistan’s youth teams.
In an attempt to increase attacking pressure, Van Khang and Quoc Viet were introduced, pushing Vietnam higher up the pitch. Uzbekistan began to show signs of fatigue, and Vietnam created several chances in the final minutes. Shots from Hieu Minh and especially Ngoc My nearly found the target, but the finishing lacked accuracy at decisive moments.
The match ended 1-0 in favour of Uzbekistan. With this result, U22 Vietnam temporarily sit third in the standings with three points and a better goal difference, but behind Uzbekistan on head-to-head criteria. The ranking may change depending on the later fixture between China and Korea Republic.
U22 Vietnam will conclude their Panda Cup 2025 campaign at 14:30 on 18 November, facing the strongest team of the tournament, U22 Korea Republic. It is expected that coach Dinh Hong Vinh will rotate further, giving playing time to remaining squad members such as Nguyen Tan, Van Ha, Duc Anh, Quang Kiet, and others to complete their evaluation process ahead of SEA Games 33.
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