Saudi Arabia, 9 January 2026 – Well-timed substitutions once again proved decisive as U.23 Vietnam overcame U.23 Kyrgyzstan 2-1, securing an early place in the quarter-finals of the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026.
U.23 Vietnam earned an important victory over U.23 Kyrgyzstan thanks to a late goal, with the tactical adjustments of head coach Kim Sang-sik continuing to deliver results. The win ensured three crucial points and confirmed Vietnam’s progression to the knockout stage.
Right from kickoff at King Abdullah Sport City, U.23 Kyrgyzstan started aggressively, repeatedly using long throw-ins to put pressure on the Vietnamese penalty area. U.23 Vietnam’s defence stayed compact and disciplined, successfully dealing with the early aerial threats.
As the first half progressed, U.23 Vietnam gradually gained control of possession and began to build attacks more smoothly from the back. Although clear chances were limited, the team showed confidence and composure in their build-up play.
The turning point arrived in the 17th minute when Le Phat was brought down inside the penalty area. Captain Khuat Van Khang calmly converted the resulting spot-kick in the 19th minute, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way to give U.23 Vietnam the lead.
Following the opening goal, Vietnam played with greater freedom. Long-range efforts from Xuan Bac and Van Khang caused concern for the Kyrgyz defence, including one strike that narrowly missed the post. However, Kyrgyzstan remained persistent, relying on direct balls and shots from distance to search for an equaliser.
That persistence paid off shortly before the break. In the 44th minute, a misplaced pass from Hieu Minh was punished as Murzakhmatov unleashed a powerful long-range shot to level the score at 1-1.
After the interval, U.23 Vietnam pushed higher up the pitch and increased the tempo. Attacks through the middle became more fluid, with Le Phat and Dinh Bac frequently interchanging positions to disrupt the Kyrgyz back line. Despite creating pressure, Vietnam struggled to turn dominance into clear-cut chances.
At the other end, U.23 Kyrgyzstan looked dangerous on the counter. Goalkeeper Tran Trung Kien delivered a composed performance, making several timely saves to keep the score level.
Coach Kim Sang-sik then introduced fresh legs to boost the attack, bringing on Dinh Bac, Van Thuan and Quoc Cuong. The substitutions increased Vietnam’s attacking momentum in the final half-hour. A notable chance came in the 79th minute when Dinh Bac played a clever through ball for Van Thuan, but defender Datsiev recovered well, with VAR later confirming no foul.
Vietnam finally found the breakthrough in the 87th minute. From sustained pressure, Van Thuan rose to meet a cross at close range, and the ball deflected off Brauzman before rolling into the net, leaving the Kyrgyz goalkeeper helpless. The goal sealed a 2-1 victory.
With this result, U.23 Vietnam secured qualification for the quarter-finals, turning the final group match against hosts U.23 Saudi Arabia into a battle for first place in Group A. Meanwhile, U.23 Kyrgyzstan were officially eliminated from the tournament.
Hong Phuc
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