Defender Ly Duc receives a disastrous red card.
Vietnam U23 were eliminated in the semi-finals of the 2026 AFC U23 Championship after a heavy 0-3 defeat against China U23 on the evening of January 20th. This loss also ended Pham Ly Duc and his teammates' winning streak at 15 matches.
After a 0-0 draw in the first half, the Chinese U23 team unexpectedly accelerated their attack. Peng Xiao opened the scoring in the 47th minute with a close-range header, and Xiang Yuwang doubled the lead in the 52nd minute with a powerful long-range shot.
Vietnam U23 were helpless in the semi-final match against China U23.
PHOTO: TED TRAN TV
The red card shown to center-back Ly Duc after a foul in the 73rd minute also dashed Vietnam U23's chances of a comeback. China U23 capitalized on their numerical advantage to score a third goal in the 8th minute of added time through Wang Yudong, sealing the match with a 3-0 victory.
This is the fourth consecutive Asian U23 Championship where the Vietnam U23 team has received a red card. In the 2020 tournament, center-back Dinh Trong was sent off in the final group stage match against North Korea U23. Two years later, another Hanoi FC player, goalkeeper Van Chuan, was sent off in the quarter-final against Saudi Arabia U23. At the 2024 AFC U23 Championship, Manh Hung's red card came at the end of the quarter-final against Iraq U23. Therefore, Ly Duc's red card in the match against China U23 (January 20th) only extends the sad statistics for Vietnamese youth football.
Injured Hieu Minh, Ly Duc suspended: Vietnam U23 faces difficulties ahead of match against South Korea U23.
When Đình Trọng received a red card against North Korea's U23 team, he had already spent two years playing for the national team and was a key player for coach Park Hang-seo. Văn Chuẩn is one of the most promising goalkeepers of the 2001 generation, while Lý Đức played for HAGL in the V-League from the 2024-2025 season before moving to Hanoi Police FC.
In other words, even experienced players who have faced challenges at various levels are not immune to moments of impulsiveness. The moment of fouling striker Behram Abduweli is a memory that Ly Duc will likely remember well. Mistakes are normal in youth football; what matters is how the player reacts after the fall.
Ly Duc (left) learns a costly lesson.
PHOTO: DONG NGUYEN KHANG
Learning from his mistakes to become stronger and more progressive, or sliding further down the career path, that's Ly Duc's personal choice. The career of the 2003-born center-back won't be shaped by just one foul, if he truly rises from his fall to build his character.
Limitations of Ly Duc
Ly Duc's talent was discovered by coach Kim Sang-sik in March 2025, when he was called up to the Vietnamese national team before even completing a full season with HAGL.
The center-back, who trained at Nutifood JMG, has a fiery, aggressive playing style, not afraid to charge into the fray like a "fighter" and is impressive in one-on-one challenges.
The image of Ly Duc celebrating wildly after his successful save in extra time during the quarter-final match against UAE U23 is exactly the kind of passion that Coach Kim always looks for in young players.
However, a center-back with a somewhat "hot" playing style like Ly Duc is a double-edged sword. He can play aggressively and tackle firmly to overwhelm opponents, but his frequent departures from his position to intercept and his somewhat "fierce" tackling also pose a risk to the defense. The Vietnam U23 team still maintains a solid defense, thanks to Hieu Minh's comprehensive and commanding role, readily covering the gaps left by Ly Duc.
However, when Hieu Minh left the field due to injury, young center-back Duc Anh was unable to replace his teammate. Duc Anh's playing style is quite similar to Ly Duc's. This is clearly not a good sign for the Vietnam U23 team.
The trio of central defenders, Ly Duc, Hieu Minh, and Nhat Minh, are solid, thanks to the young players who, though not perfect, are ready to perfectly compensate for each other's weaknesses. When one link breaks, the shortcomings of the others become apparent.
Ly Duc lost control under pressure from the Chinese U23 team. The red card was just the final domino effect, as the 23-year-old center-back's mental stamina was completely depleted. It was a bitter lesson for Ly Duc, but one that will be invaluable if he learns from it and overcomes it.
Coach Kim Sang-sik of the Vietnam U23 team, or Coach Alexandre Polking of Hanoi Police FC, would have much to say to Ly Duc. A quality "raw gem" needs to be polished properly. And the best, albeit most painful, way to polish it is to let the young player learn from his mistakes.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/ly-duc-phai-biet-lay-the-do-de-tu-ran-minh-185260121005927371.htm
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