Saudi Arabia, 6 January 2026 – Head coach Kim Sang-sik expressed his satisfaction after U23 Vietnam made excellent use of set pieces to defeat U23 Jordan 2–0 in their opening match of the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 on the evening of January 6.
Vietnam surprised their opponents with an aggressive start, pushing forward continuously in the first 20 minutes at King Abdullah Sports City. In the 11th minute, Vietnam were awarded a penalty after referee Choi Hyun-jai consulted VAR and reviewed footage that confirmed a Jordanian defender had handled the ball inside the penalty area following a corner kick. Nguyen Dinh Bac stepped up and fired a powerful low shot into the right corner to open the scoring.
Vietnam doubled their lead in the 41st minute, once again from a familiar set-piece routine. Khuat Van Khang delivered an inswinging corner from the right flank to the far post, where Nguyen Hieu Minh arrived to tap in from close range. The goal sealed the 2–0 victory, which remained the final score.
“We have trained very carefully on set pieces,” Kim Sang-sik said after the match. “The players stayed focused during training, and they were able to apply it in a real match to score goals. This strength has been shown in previous tournaments, and we are very happy that it helped us secure this win.”
This marked Vietnam’s second consecutive opening-match victory at the AFC U23 Asian Cup, following their 3–1 win over Kuwait in 2024. It was also Vietnam’s first-ever win over Jordan at this level, giving the team a positive start in their quest for a quarter-final place.
Kim Sang-sik also praised his players for their fighting spirit under difficult conditions in Saudi Arabia, where temperatures reached around 30°C and the match kicked off at 14:30 local time (18:30 Hanoi time). He noted that the heat took a toll in the second half, allowing Jordan to apply more pressure. “But the players stayed united and fought as one to protect the three points,” he said.
With the win, Vietnam temporarily top Group A with three points. Kim Sang-sik said the immediate focus is recovery ahead of the next group match against Kyrgyzstan on January 9, while the coaching staff will prepare tactically. Only after that match will the team fully turn its attention to the final group game against host Saudi Arabia.
The coach also revealed concerns over injuries, with several players picking up knocks, including Nguyen Xuan Bac, who was seen clutching his ankle in discomfort after the final whistle. The medical staff will conduct further assessments back at the hotel.
Meanwhile, forward Nguyen Thanh Nhan is still sidelined with a calf injury. Bui Vi Hao suffered a recurrence of his ankle injury and has returned home, making way for 2007-born striker Nguyen Le Phat, who played the full match against Jordan.
“Dealing with injuries is one of our biggest challenges at this tournament,” Kim Sang-sik admitted. “However, the squad is well prepared. No matter the position, we always have players ready to step in and fulfill their responsibilities.”
Minh Hang
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