China U23: The biggest mystery at the 2026 AFC U23 Championship.

China's U23 team pulled off the biggest surprise at the 2026 AFC U23 Championship, beating Vietnam's U23 team 3-0 and advancing to the final with a clean sheet.

China U23 shock

The 3-0 victory against Vietnam U23 propelled China U23 to the Asian U23 Championship final for the first time , marking a significant milestone in the country's journey to revive its football faith.

It was a victory of flexible tactics, a strong mentality, and above all, of a young team that dared to believe in itself.

China's U23 team pulled off a major surprise. Photo: AFC

Before the match, few thought the Chinese U23 team could create such a dominant performance. The Vietnamese U23 team entered the semi-finals with a winning streak, a cohesive playing style, and superior physical fitness.

However, from the moment the starting lineup was announced, coach Antonio Puche sent a signal that he would not accept following the beaten path.

China's U23 team made six changes to their starting lineup compared to the quarter-final match, with four key players who had played in all four previous matches surprisingly being benched. This decision shocked the public and also surprised coach Kim Sang Sik.

"The opposing team made significant changes to their starting lineup, and we didn't have time to adapt. That's my responsibility ," the South Korean coach admitted.

Antonio Puche understood that after four consecutive matches with the same tactical structure, the Chinese U23 team had been almost completely "dissected." Change was necessary, not only to refresh their playing style, but also to address the fitness issue, as key players had to endure 120 minutes in the quarter-finals.

The Spanish coach opted to strengthen the midfield while adding flexibility in movement and ball control – a performance they hadn't shown in Saudi Arabia.

In the semi-final match, the Chinese U23 team made many changes. Photo: AFC

Those adjustments quickly paid off. In the first half, the Chinese U23 team didn't retreat into a defensive posture as many expected, but instead took the initiative to control the ball and dictate the tempo.

Different gameplay

The turning point came at the beginning of the second half. The opening goal, from a well-executed aerial ball, completely shattered the deadlock. Center-back Peng Xiao scored China U23 's first two goals of the tournament.

Almost immediately, a daring individual move and a decisive finish from Xiang Yuwang increased the score to 2-0. Vietnam U23 were forced to push forward, and the game was completely controlled by China U23.

Notably, after taking the lead, the Chinese U23 team did not retreat into a passive defensive posture.

Conversely, they continued to apply pressure, maintained a reasonable defensive formation, and were ready to launch sharp counter-attacks.

The players coming off the bench continued to make a difference, with a goal disallowed by VAR, showcasing the squad depth and consistent preparation – an element that Chinese football is often questioned about.

The 5-3-2 defensive system remains the foundation of their victories. The solidity of the defense, superior aerial ability, and consistent performance of the goalkeeper helped the Chinese U23 team keep a clean sheet for the fifth consecutive match.

The Chinese U23 team played more intelligently. Photo: AFC

This victory surpasses the value of a ticket to the U23 Asian Championship final. It is a confirmation that Chinese youth football is on the rise, with the right direction and a suitable coach.

Antonio Puche is a man of his word, action, and responsibility. He is patient and adheres to a clear philosophy, even though just a few months ago he was still being criticized for his personnel choices.

After years of doubt and disappointment, the Chinese U23 team has restored lost faith to their fans.

Before the final match against U23 Japan, the challenge remains immense. But regardless of the outcome, the victory against U23 Vietnam is already a significant milestone.

"Reaching the U23 Asian Championship final is a small surprise for coach Antonio Puche, but a major shock for Chinese football ," wrote Sina.

The Chinese U23 team and coach Antonio Puche personally are the biggest mystery at the 2026 AFC U23 Championship.

Watch the entire 2026 AFC U23 Asian Championship Finals on TV360 at https://tv360.vn

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/u23-trung-quoc-3-0-u23-viet-bi-an-lon-nhat-tai-u23-chau-a-2026-2483888.html