Vietnam U23: A beautiful ending for Coach Kim Sang Sik and his team.

1. The Vietnam U23 team entered the third-place match with numerous disadvantages. A depleted squad due to injuries and suspensions meant coach Kim Sang Sik was almost without his best players.

Meanwhile, although the South Korean U23 team didn't leave a particularly strong impression at the tournament, they were still considered stronger due to their physical fitness, build, and squad depth.

The match unfolded exactly as predicted. South Korea U23 controlled the game, constantly pressing and creating significant pressure for most of the match. Vietnam U23 played defensively, conceding possession and waiting for opportunities from counter-attacks and set pieces.

If it weren't for the South Korean U23 team's poor finishing (nearly 30 shots) and lackluster attacking play, the result for Coach Kim Sang Sik's team might have been different.

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The Vietnam U23 team played a courageous and resilient match.

2. Setting aside the technical aspects, in terms of emotion, the Vietnam U23 team provided fans with a feast full of very… football-related and memorable elements.

Dinh Bac created the opportunity for Quoc Viet to open the scoring before scoring from a superb free-kick that seemed to have secured the victory for coach Kim Sang Sik's team. But ultimately, it was the number 7 who caused everything to take a different turn with a direct red card received in the 86th minute.

In those circumstances, conceding an equalizer in the final seconds of the second half was inevitable. But that was also the last time Van Binh conceded a goal, because in the 30 minutes of extra time, the U23 Vietnam defense held firm with high concentration and a fighting spirit to drag the match into a penalty shootout.

In the tense penalty shootout, the composure of the Vietnam U23 team was clearly demonstrated. The players took their shots with greater composure, ultimately closing the match with an emotional victory.

3. To be fair, the Vietnam U23 team could have won earlier if not for those moments of lack of concentration in the final seconds and Dinh Bac's red card, which made the match very difficult. But it was precisely those difficulties that made this victory even more memorable.

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To win and conclude a memorable tournament.

Third place wasn't the initial goal, but in the specific context of the tournament, it was a well-deserved reward. The Vietnam U23 team has come a long way, showcasing almost all of their best qualities, paying the price in terms of physical fitness, injuries, and valuable lessons.

The victory against South Korea U23 helped coach Kim Sang Sik's team conclude the tournament in a more positive way, affirming the spirit, character, and aspiration of a talented Vietnamese football team.

For the players, this is not just a bronze medal at the continental championship, but also a confirmation that they have all been maturing rapidly and will soon appear in the Vietnamese national team jersey in the very near future.

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