Vietnam U23 set a milestone that even the generation of Cong Phuong and Quang Hai has not yet achieved.

Besides securing a place in the quarter-finals after the second match of Group D last night, the Vietnam U23 team set two new records for Southeast Asian football in continental competitions. Firstly, Vietnam became the team with the most successful group stage advances in the U23 Asian Championship in the region.

By winning both opening matches, this year's Vietnam U23 team earned a perfect 6 points after their first two games. Previous generations of players, including Khuất Văn Khang and his teammates, only managed a maximum of one win each time they participated in the group stage of the U23 Asian Championship. Even the 2018 generation of Quang Hải and Công Phượng only had 4 points after one win, one draw, and one loss.

Vietnam U23 team sets new milestone after reaching the quarterfinals of the 2024 AFC U23 Asian Championship.

Two years ago, the Vietnam U23 team set a record of 5 points in the group stage - an achievement no Southeast Asian team had ever accomplished. This year, coach Hoang Anh Tuan's team has 6 points after 2 matches and could improve on that record.

Looking at it more broadly across all levels, this is only the second time Vietnamese football has had a representative win two group stage matches in a continental tournament (only counting 11-a-side football, excluding futsal). The previous occasion was at the U20 Asian Championship finals a year ago, led by coach Hoang Anh Tuan. The core of that team also features in the current Vietnam U23 team.

Last year, Coach Hoang Anh Tuan's team was eliminated after the group stage despite winning two matches. However, that will not happen again. After last night's matches, the Vietnam U23 team has secured a place in the quarterfinals even though their final match against Uzbekistan U23 has not yet taken place.

Phuong Linh

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/u23-viet-nam-thiet-lap-cot-moc-lua-cong-phuong-quang-hai-cung-chua-dat-duoc-ar866436.html