'When will anyone ever mention Changzhou again...'

Vietnam U23 and coach Park Hang-seo achieve a miracle.

Today (January 27th) marks the 7th anniversary of the 2018 AFC U-23 Asian Championship final. In the freezing cold of Changzhou, with a blanket of snow covering the pitch, the Vietnam U-23 team achieved an extraordinary feat by fighting on equal terms with Uzbekistan U-23 in the final. Coach Park Hang-seo's team drew 1-1 until the very last minute of the second extra time period, before losing to a decisive goal by Sirodov of Uzbekistan.

Despite losing in the final seconds and missing out on glory, the Vietnam U23 team had a tournament worthy of history. Quang Hai and his teammates overcame a group that included strong teams like South Korea U23, Australia U23, and Syria U23. In the quarterfinals, Vietnam U23 continued their winning streak by defeating Iraq U23 on penalties with a score of 5-4 (3-3 after 120 minutes). In the semi-finals, Coach Park Hang-seo's team played one of the best matches Vietnamese football has ever witnessed, beating Qatar U23 4-3 on penalties (2-2 after 120 minutes).

'Who will ever mention Changzhou again in the future?'

The miraculous journey of the Vietnam U23 team only came to an end in the final seconds of the match, amidst the freezing snow and rain in Changzhou. The moment Quang Hai's free-kick with its rainbow trajectory found the back of the net against Uzbekistan U23, the footage of Duy Manh planting the flag on a snowdrift, and the image of the entire team straining against a much stronger opponent rekindled the flame of faith in Vietnamese football, becoming a symbol of the fighting spirit of a resilient generation that never gives up.

"When will anyone remember Changzhou in the future..." is the title that FIFA's homepage dedicated to the Vietnam U23 team. After 7 years, this tournament remains in the minds of fans with unforgettable memories. It was also one of the rare tournaments that brought fans to the streets to celebrate, with the red and yellow flags illuminating every street. Following the 2018 AFC U23 Championship, Vietnamese football also set a series of memorable milestones: fourth place at the 2018 Asian Games, winning the 2018 AFF Cup, reaching the quarterfinals of the 2019 Asian Cup, and qualifying for the third round of the 2022 World Cup. The glorious era of success under coach Park Hang-seo will forever be a shining highlight in the history of Vietnamese football.

After 7 years, Vietnamese fans once again poured into the streets to celebrate winning the 2024 AFF Cup. There, the heroes of Changzhou from years past, such as Quang Hai, Duy Manh, Xuan Manh, Tien Dung, etc., all left a strong mark, helping the Vietnamese national team return to the top of Southeast Asia.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/fifa-goi-nho-ky-niem-dep-cua-u23-viet-nam-mai-nay-ai-nhac-lai-thuong-chau-185250127184752905.htm