Saudi Arabia, 20 January 2026 – During the afternoon training session on January 19, the U23 Vietnam coaching staff placed special emphasis on penalty-saving drills for goalkeeper Tran Trung Kien, ensuring full readiness for all possible scenarios in the semifinal against U23 China.
On the afternoon of January 19, U23 Vietnam continued their preparations for the semifinal of the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 with a highly focused training session, in which penalty situations were given particular attention. Goalkeeping coach Lee Won Jae personally oversaw the drills, putting goalkeeper Tran Trung Kien through a series of close-range finishing exercises designed to simulate penalty kicks.
According to observations at the training ground, the drills were set up at very short distances, requiring the goalkeeper to make rapid lateral movements, react instantly, and maintain composure under intense pressure. Several situations were deliberately designed to mirror the psychological and technical demands of a penalty shootout, helping Trung Kien build familiarity with high-stress moments should the match be decided from the spot.
Lee Won Jae directly demonstrated techniques and corrected every movement in detail. The former South Korea international, who featured in four FIFA World Cups, is expected to provide a major advantage to U23 Vietnam thanks to his vast experience, particularly in moments that demand calmness, courage, and sharp decision-making such as penalty shootouts.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference earlier, goalkeeper Tran Trung Kien confirmed that the squad are in good spirits and fully prepared for a tough encounter. “Before tomorrow’s match, both I and the whole team are in a very positive mindset. All players will stay fully focused, follow the coaching staff’s tactical instructions, and give everything to achieve victory,” Trung Kien said.
When assessing the opponent, the U23 Vietnam goalkeeper expressed respect for Li Hao on the U23 China side. “For a goalkeeper who has not conceded a single goal after four matches at the U23 Asian Cup, I believe Li Hao is a high-quality goalkeeper with very complete skills,” Trung Kien noted.
On the sidelines of the press conference on January 19, head coach Kim Sang-sik also shared a light-hearted moment when asked about viral images circulating on social media that humorously compare him to the wizard character Harry Potter. The Korean coach said he had seen the images, found them amusing, and understood the strong affection and attention from Vietnamese fans. Speaking to Ted Tran, Kim admitted he could not help but laugh at the “unusual” images.
Beyond the humor, Kim Sang-sik stressed the special historical significance of matches between Vietnam and China in Asian football, while reaffirming the team’s determination. “I know this is a very important match. All players have strong determination and a clear desire to win. We will try our best to prepare thoroughly in order to achieve the best possible result,” the head coach emphasized.
The semifinal between U23 Vietnam and U23 China will take place at 22:30 on January 20 (GMT +7).
Ha An
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