China's U23 team makes history.

China's U23 team defeated Vietnam in the semi-finals of the 2026 AFC U23 Championship and advanced to the final with a convincing performance.

China's U23 team made history. Photo: AF C

The 3-0 victory against Vietnam U23 in the semi-finals of the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Championship on the morning of January 21st was not only significant in terms of the result, but also a clear testament to the strong transformation of Chinese youth football. Coach Antonio Puche's team made history by reaching the AFC U23 Asian Championship final for the first time.

More broadly, this also marks the first time in 22 years that a Chinese men's national team has reached the top four in Asia at any level. The "continental dream," which once seemed far-fetched for Chinese football, has now become a reality in Saudi Arabia.

Under the guidance of coach Puche, the Chinese U23 team displayed a completely different image compared to their familiar form in the earlier stages of the tournament. While in the first four matches they mainly relied on mass defense, prioritizing safety and capitalizing on opportunities, in the semi-final they showed a much more energetic and proactive performance.

The Chinese U23 team showed a different performance compared to their previous four matches. Photo: AFC

Facing a high-performing U23 Vietnam team with an impressive winning streak, China did not opt ​​for a defensive approach. Instead, they deployed a disciplined style of play, aggressive pressing, combined with superior speed and physical fitness.

This change made it difficult for the Vietnam U23 team to implement their playing style, while also allowing China to fully exploit crucial moments of the match.

Many Chinese U23 players have shown remarkable maturity in tactical thinking and competitive spirit through each match in this year's tournament. They are not flashy or ostentatious, but highly effective, true to the pragmatic football philosophy that coach Puche has built.

Reaching the U23 Asian Championship final for the first time is a well-deserved reward for the perseverance of Chinese football in recent years.

All goals from the U23 Vietnam - U23 UAE match: In the early hours of January 17th, U23 Vietnam defeated U23 UAE with a score of 3-2 in the quarter-finals of the 2026 U23 Asian Championship.

Source: https://znews.vn/u23-trung-quoc-lam-nen-lich-su-post1621362.html