Local media dubbed coach Kim Sang-sik the 'dead ball wizard'.

TPO - Once again, coach Kim Sang-sik's adjustments brought maximum results for the Vietnam U23 team. After the victory against Kyrgyzstan, the Chosun newspaper likened him to a "set-ball wizard," someone who consistently brings life to the Vietnam U23 team's attacks.

A leading South Korean sports publication wrote: “Vietnam won 2-1 against Kyrgyzstan in their second match of Group A at the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Championship. With this victory, Vietnam continues to lead the group with two wins.”

In the match, the Vietnam U23 team demonstrated their strength in set-piece situations against the Kyrgyzstan U23 team. Both of their goals came from set pieces. Vietnam took the lead in the 19th minute with a penalty kick by Van Khang. Le Phat earned the penalty by tricking an opponent into committing a foul inside the penalty area.

This goal showcased the excellent positioning and quick reflexes of the Vietnamese players. Conversely, the Kyrgyzstan players reacted slowly to second balls and conceded a penalty due to a careless handling error.

After conceding the equalizer, Vietnam consistently worried their opponents with impressive attacking plays. And in the 87th minute, they sealed the victory. This goal also came from a set piece.

Le Van Thuan headed the ball past defender Christian Brauzmann and into the net. The magic of set pieces from "the wizard" Kim Sang-sik exploded again! Two more goals from set pieces bring Vietnam very close to advancing to the next round.

Meanwhile, following a series of victories with Vietnamese football, the newspaper News has elevated coach Kim Sang-sik to the same level as his predecessor Park Hang-seo. The Korean publication wrote: “Kim Sang-sik, who will take over as head coach of the Vietnamese national teams in May 2024, has been compared to Park Hang-seo. After an impressive victory against the Philippines in his debut match in June, Kim has won consecutively in three tournaments: the U23 Southeast Asian Championship, the SEA Games 33, and the ASEAN Cup 2024. At the U23 Asian Championship 2026, they are also well on track to advance to the quarterfinals after defeating Jordan and Kyrgyzstan.”

Watch the entire 2026 AFC U23 Asian Championship Finals on TV360 at https://tv360.vn. Enjoy a smooth multi-platform experience, rewind and replay, and free Viettel 4G/5G data.

Source: https://tienphong.vn/truyen-thong-que-nha-goi-hlv-kim-sang-sik-la-phu-thuy-bong-chet-post1811781.tpo