Facing a physically strong, disciplined, and tactically astute opponent, the Vietnam U23 team opted for a tight and resilient style of play. The two teams contested every ball and every attack in a tense atmosphere. In the 62nd minute, the game-changing moment arrived. From the right wing, Minh Phúc surged forward with determination, delivering a perfectly placed cross that momentarily halted the UAE U23 defense. Đình Bắc seized the opportunity, leaping high to head the ball into the net, giving Vietnam U23 a 2-1 lead.
Pham Minh Phuc had a triumphant night with the Vietnam U23 team. Photo: AFC.
That play was not just an assist, but also a testament to the confidence, tactical vision, and competitive spirit of Minh Phúc – a modern defender, quiet but effective, always knowing how to make a difference at the right moment in the Hanoi Police Football Club jersey.
As the match went into extra time, the players' physical and mental strength were depleted after more than 100 tense minutes. Then, in the 101st minute, Minh Phúc once again appeared at the right moment. From a rebound in the penalty area, the number 21 defender controlled the ball neatly and unleashed a decisive shot with his right foot. The ball deflected slightly off an opposing defender's foot, changing direction and going into the net, leaving the UAE U23 goalkeeper helpless and sealing a breathtaking 3-2 victory for Vietnam U23.
That goal not only opened the door to the semi-finals for Coach Kim Sang-sik's team, but also served as a meaningful moment of relief for Minh Phúc personally. The number 21 jersey – which evoked many unfulfilled memories of Vietnamese football in major tournaments – was worn by the young player with composure, confidence, and discipline. Notably, after scoring, Minh Phúc deliberately controlled his emotions, refraining from taking off his shirt to celebrate to avoid a yellow card – a small detail but one that demonstrates remarkable maturity in his game plan.
After that emotional match, the head coach of the Hanoi Police Football Club's U21 team, Pham Quang Thanh, who has been Minh Phuc's mentor and guide for many years, couldn't hide his emotion at witnessing his student shine on the big stage of continental football. "I always place my complete trust in Minh Phuc. He is a progressive player, trains very diligently, and always strives to improve. I believe Minh Phuc will go even further," Coach Pham Quang Thanh shared.
Pham Minh Phuc (third from the left) is gradually finding his place in the starting lineup of Hanoi Police Football Club.
Few know that behind that moment of triumph on the continental stage lies a quiet, persistent journey spanning more than a decade for Pham Minh Phuc. The story began in 2015, when the boy from Hung Yen was introduced to the Public Security Sports Youth Team by a local coach. Recalling their first meeting, Coach Pham Quang Thanh shared: “At that time, Phuc had just finished competing in the U11 Children's tournament. My impression was of a very young boy who was already very disciplined and well-behaved; his face was bright, and he looked more like a diligent student than a charismatic player.”
The early years at the Public Security Sports Team were also a period of many difficulties for the team, with limited training facilities at the Ministry of Public Security's Sports Center. In those circumstances, Minh Phúc and his teammates maintained a serious and persistent training spirit every day. This early discipline helped Minh Phúc quickly adapt to the unique environment of the Public Security Sports Team, quietly building a foundation and gradually maturing. From the training ground at 396 Nguyen Xien (Thanh Liet, Hanoi), the training center of the Public Security sector has nurtured Minh Phúc and many other young talents.
“He is a well-behaved, talented, and dedicated player; an exemplary captain who always meets all training requirements. Having been honed in the professional and rigorous environment of the Public Security Sports team since childhood, I believe Phuc will go far,” commented Coach Pham Quang Thanh. From the U11 level, Minh Phuc has progressed through the U19 and U21 Public Security Sports teams, winning the bronze medal with his teammates at the 2020 National U19 Championship – laying the first foundation stones for his professional football career.
Minh Phúc's path to the first team was therefore not a bed of roses. After being promoted to the youth team several times and then returning to the youth team, it wasn't until 2024 that he officially established himself in the Hanoi Police Football Club's lineup. From that milestone, Minh Phúc matured rapidly, accumulating playing experience and gradually proving himself to be given the opportunity to wear the Vietnam U23 jersey at the 2026 AFC U23 Championship.
Recalling memories from the period leading up to the 33rd SEA Games, Coach Pham Quang Thanh reminisced: “Before leaving, Phuc came to visit and congratulate me on November 20th. At that time, neither of us was sure whether he would be able to go to Thailand or not. But I always believed that, with his progressive spirit and relentless efforts, Phuc would go far.”
“And now, Minh Phuc has become an important link in the Vietnam U23 team. If he continues to train and is given opportunities, I believe he will not only be a pillar of the U23 team but also have the courage to rise to the national team in the future,” the coach said, his eyes shining with belief and expectation.
From the underdeveloped training grounds of the Public Security Sports Association to the explosive moment on the continental stage, Pham Minh Phuc has written a modern-day fairy tale – a story of discipline, perseverance, and aspiration, adding a beautiful color to the journey of Vietnamese football at the 2026 AFC U23 Championship.
Sharing her vision for the future, Colonel Nguyen Thi Thuy Thanh, Deputy Director of the Political Affairs Department of the Ministry of Public Security, and Vice President and General Secretary of the Vietnam Public Security Sports Association, stated that the Ministry of Public Security and the Association will continue to dedicate attention and investment to football, Olympic sports, and sports with professional applications, in order to reciprocate the love and expectations of fans.
“We hope that the Public Security Sports Association will continue to discover and nurture more promising talents like Pham Minh Phuc. With the support and facilitation from the sector, the Public Security Sports Association will be a launching pad for young athletes to develop comprehensively, thereby making a positive contribution to the overall success of national sports,” Colonel Nguyen Thi Thuy Thanh emphasized.
Minh Phuc is the man who broke the "bad luck" for the number 21 jersey.
The number 21 jersey has been associated with sad memories for the Vietnam U23 team in the three previous AFC U23 Asian Championships. In all three tournaments, the players wearing the number 21 jersey received red cards in defeats, leaving a mark as an inexplicable "jinx".
At the 2020 AFC U23 Asian Championship in Thailand, center-back Tran Dinh Trong received his second yellow card, resulting in a red card, in the final minutes of the 1-2 defeat against North Korea U23 in the last group stage match. This result meant Vietnam U23 were eliminated early, only earning 2 points after two 0-0 draws against UAE U23 and Jordan U23.
Two years later, at the 2022 AFC U23 Championship in Uzbekistan, the "curse" repeated itself when goalkeeper Quan Van Chuan received a red card in the 78th minute of the 0-2 quarter-final loss to Saudi Arabia U23, thus ending Vietnam U23's journey. At the 2024 AFC U23 Championship in Qatar, center-back Nguyen Manh Hung became the next player wearing the number 21 jersey to be sent off, receiving a red card in the 90+1 minute of the 0-1 quarter-final loss to Iraq U23. In this tournament, Khuat Van Khang, Thai Son, and Quoc Viet were also part of the Vietnam U23 squad.
However, with his impressive performance against the UAE U23 team, and especially the winning goal, Pham Minh Phuc completely broke the "curse" once associated with the number 21 jersey, transforming the once-haunting number into a symbol of a triumphant moment for the Vietnam U23 team.
Source: https://cand.com.vn/the-thao/pham-minh-phuc-hanh-trinh-tham-lang-va-khoanh-khac-bung-no-cung-u23-viet-nam-i794416/
Comment (0)