Vietnam U23 vs China U23 Prediction: Confidence in Victory

The Vietnam U23 team is determined to defeat the China U23 team at 10:30 PM on January 20th, securing a place in the final of the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Championship.

VietNamNet•19/01/2026

Decoding the Chinese U23 defense

The U23 Vietnam vs U23 China semi-final match at the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Championship has garnered significant attention from fans. This is a clash between two teams with completely contrasting styles: one strong in attack, and the other a solid defense.

After four matches since the start of the tournament, the Chinese U23 team has yet to concede a single goal. The defense, built by coach Antonio Puche, is truly solid and poses a significant challenge to any opponent.

In the quarter-finals, despite being considered the stronger team, Uzbekistan U23 were unable to beat goalkeeper Li Hao in 120 minutes of play, before succumbing in the penalty shootout.

The defensive style of play adopted by the Chinese U23 team demonstrates their understanding of their opponents and their own strengths, without needing to play beautifully. Even against the Vietnamese U23 team , which is merely a team from Southeast Asia, it wouldn't be surprising if coach Antonio Puche's squad continued to "park the bus" in front of goalkeeper Li Hao's goal.

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Li Hao was outstanding in goal for the Chinese U23 team.

It would be difficult for the Chinese U23 team to abandon their strengths and play a risky, attacking game against the Vietnamese U23 team. They are well aware of how dangerous the team led by coach Kim Sang Sik is, possessing many excellent players in their attacking line.

The question is how long the Chinese U23 defense will hold out when the Vietnamese U23 team launches an all-out attack to settle the match within 90 minutes. This will depend heavily on the performance of goalkeeper Li Hao and the organization of the defense, in addition to the effectiveness of the opponent's playing style.

For the first time in history, the Chinese U23 team has reached the semi-finals of an Asian U23 Championship, and coach Antonio Puche's team certainly doesn't want to stop there. However, doing well defensively is one thing, but how to withstand the attacking power of the Vietnamese U23 team is another story altogether.

Get a ticket to the final.

Compared to their opponents, the Vietnam U23 team has the advantage of having had one more day of rest. This is crucial because the semi-final match is expected to be very tense and dramatic, with a battle of strength and strategy between two representatives of footballing nations that are considered to be of similar skill levels.

In preparation for the match, coach Kim Sang Sik and his staff watched the Chinese U23 team's quarter-final match against the Uzbekistan U23 team live. The South Korean strategist also devised many strategies, ready to play a full-fledged game against their opponent.

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Vietnam U23 confident of victory and securing a place in the final. Photo: AFC

The strength of the Chinese U23 team lies in their discipline and tightness. They often try to narrow their formation in the midfield, thereby forcing opponents to play on the flanks or use long balls. This style of play is often ineffective against the physically strong defenders of the Chinese U23 team.

However, the Vietnam U23 team is very confident thanks to its flexible and unpredictable playing style. From the group stage to the quarter-finals, coach Kim Sang Sik surprised his opponents with different approaches, playing styles, tactical formations, and lineups.

Of course, when facing the Chinese U23 team, Coach Kim still has to focus on the attacking front. The Vietnamese U23 team will likely use speedy players like Le Phat and Ngoc My to wear down their opponents, then bring on key tactical players like Dinh Bac, Van Thuan, and Thanh Nhan in the second half.

To defeat their opponent within 90 minutes, the Vietnamese U23 attack must create intense and continuous pressure. Meanwhile, the defense must also be vigilant against the quick counter-attacks of the Chinese U23 team.

It will be a tough match against Vietnam U23, but Dinh Bac and his teammates' goal is to aim for the U23 Asian Championship title, so everyone is ready to play with 200% effort, determined to defeat their opponent and achieve a continental miracle.

The U23 Vietnam vs U23 China semi-final match will kick off at 10:30 PM on January 20th.

Predicted lineup:

Vietnam U23 : Trung Kien, Ly Duc, Hieu Minh, Nhat Minh, Minh Phuc, Xuan Bac, Thai Son, Van Khang, Ngoc My, Thanh Nhan, Le Phat
China U23 : Li Hao, Hu Hetao, He Yiran, Umidjan Yusup, Xu Bin, Mutellip Iminqari, Peng Xiao, Li Zhenquan, Behram Abduweli, Wang Yudong, Yang Xi