Mr. Kim Sang-sik and the 4 factors that decide the success or failure of U23 Vietnam against Yemen

TPO - Khuat Van Khang, Nguyen Dinh Bac or Pham Ly Duc will be the names that can decide victory or defeat in the confrontation between U23 Vietnam and U23 Yemen in the final match of Group C, 2026 AFC U23 Championship Qualifiers.

Khuat Van Khang is the midfield orchestrator for the Vietnam U23 team. In the opening match against the weaker opponent, Bangladesh U23, he was benched and only came on in the second half. Coach Kim Sang-sik instead gave an opportunity to Van Truong, a player considered to have potential for development. With extensive V-League experience playing for The Cong Viettel , Van Khang has emerged as a leader of the Vietnam U23 team with his ability to control the ball, create chances, and score goals.

In attack, the Vietnam U23 team boasts two promising young strikers: Nguyen Quoc Viet, a product of the Nutifood Academy, and Dinh Bac, a forward currently playing for Hanoi Police FC. Dinh Bac was given opportunities by Coach Troussier when he was coaching the national teams. He possesses the good qualities of a striker, the ability to seize opportunities, and is particularly energetic and proactive. Experts believe that if he were allowed to discipline himself, Dinh Bac could be even better and achieve more. (Photo: Ngoc Tu)

One name that made a significant impression in the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup Qualifiers was Vietnamese-born player Viktor Le. Coming on in the second half of the match against Bangladesh U23, Viktor Le immediately impressed coach Kim Sang-sik. Besides a shot that hit the crossbar, he also scored the goal that sealed the 2-0 victory for Vietnam U23. Playing technically, intelligently, and with skillful movement, Viktor Le could become a sharp weapon for Vietnam U23 against the Yemen U23 defense.

Coach Kim Sang-sik's personnel and tactical adjustments are proving highly effective in the tournament in Phu Tho . His teams don't play with flashy tactics, but they improve and become more solid and effective as the tournament progresses. The match against U23 Yemen will be another opportunity for the South Korean coach to demonstrate his ability to "read" his opponents.

Against an opponent who also has 6 points in Group C, the Vietnam U23 team will need a solid defense. Pham Ly Duc, a player who graduated from the Nutifood Academy, will play a crucial role as a defensive anchor. With a height of 1.82m, Ly Duc is effective both in dealing with aerial balls and in attacking play. He was the one who headed the ball backwards to set up Van Thuan's goal, helping Vietnam U23 defeat Singapore U23 1-0 in the second match.

One of the strengths of the Vietnam U23 team is that not only the forwards, but many other players are also capable of scoring goals. Coach Kim Sang-sik has a squad of young players full of enthusiasm, fighting spirit, and a desire to win.

Source: https://tienphong.vn/ong-kim-sang-sik-va-4-nhan-to-quyet-dinh-thanh-bai-cua-u23-viet-nam-truoc-yemen-post1776565.tpo