Vietnam has a wide open door to the semi-finals of the U23 Southeast Asia

As expected and expected by many fans, the U23 Vietnam team had a successful opening match at the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship when they won 3-0 against U23 Laos. This result not only helped coach Kim Sang-sik's team temporarily rise to the top of Group B but also created favorable psychological momentum for the journey to defend the championship.

Right from the first minutes, U23 Vietnam dominated the game with their superior ball control. After many missed opportunities, captain Khuat Van Khang broke the deadlock with a decisive shot in the 19th minute. Taking advantage of the space in the penalty area, the midfielder with the captain's armband unleashed a low, tricky shot to open the scoring for his team.

In the second half, the U23 Laos defense revealed many loopholes, creating conditions for center-back Nguyen Hieu Minh to score 2 goals in the 71st and 84th minutes. The first goal came from a header after a corner kick by Dinh Bac, and the second goal was a neat turn and finish in the penalty area. This was an impressive debut match for the center-back born in 2004 in the U23 Vietnam shirt.

Vietnam has a wide open door to the semi-finals of the U23 Southeast Asia - Photo 1.

U23 Vietnam (in white) has a good chance of entering the semi-finals of the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship. Photo: VFF

Despite the big win, U23 Vietnam's playing style was still not really convincing. According to experts, the team's central coordination lacked creativity and innovation. Throughout the first half, despite holding the ball a lot, U23 Vietnam mainly relied on set pieces or crosses from the wings. This is something coach Kim Sang-sik needs to adjust soon if he wants U23 Vietnam to effectively confront stronger opponents in the next round.

After the opening match, coach Kim Sang-sik said: "I am satisfied with the way the players showed their fighting spirit and maintained a balanced game between offense and defense. However, everyone can see that the team still has a lot of work to do if they want to reach the final match." The Korean coach also affirmed that he will make appropriate adjustments for the upcoming match against U23 Cambodia.

As for the outstanding individuals, captain Khuat Van Khang continued to show his leadership role with the opening goal and the ability to coordinate the game effectively. Nguyen Dinh Bac made his mark with 2 accurate assists. Meanwhile, Hieu Minh became an unexpected bright spot with a double in his first appearance in the starting lineup.

The victory over U23 Laos helped U23 Vietnam rise to the top of Group B with 3 points, 2 points more than Cambodia and Laos - the two teams that had previously drawn 1-1. If they gain at least 1 more point in the final match against Cambodia, coach Kim Sang-sik and his team will certainly win a ticket to the semi-finals, including officially ranking first in the group.

Ensuring strength and improving attack efficiency are still important tasks for U23 Vietnam in the remaining part of the tournament. With a tight schedule, reasonable calculations on personnel and tactics will play a key role if U23 Vietnam wants to defend the "throne" of the tournament.

The next match between U23 Vietnam and U23 Cambodia will take place on July 22. This is not only an opportunity to win a ticket to the semi-finals but also an important test for the ambition to defend the throne of coach Kim Sang-sik and his team.

Vietnam has a wide open door to the semi-finals of the U23 Southeast Asia - Photo 2.