Will the Vietnamese U23 players celebrate a victory against Yemen U23? - Photo: NGOC LE
Both teams have 6 points after two matches, but Vietnam U23 is currently ranked above Yemen U23 due to a better goal difference (3/0 compared to 3/1).
Therefore, coach Kim Sang Sik's team only needs a draw to officially qualify for the 2026 U23 Asian Championship finals. But the issue is not just about 1 or 3 points; fans expect a more convincing performance from the Vietnam U23 team.
The challenge is called Yemen U23.
Based on their performance, the Yemen U23 team doesn't seem like a particularly formidable opponent. In their opening match, the Yemen players quickly took a 2-0 lead in the first half thanks to two penalties. However, they allowed Singapore U23 to pull one back to 2-1 in the second half.
Most recently, the Yemen U23 team narrowly defeated Bangladesh U23 1-0 thanks to a late goal in the 90+4th minute. Notably, coach Amin Al Suneini's team only managed to score when their opponents were reduced to 10 men in the 87th minute after receiving a red card.
However, the Yemen U23 team promises to pose more difficulties for Coach Kim Sang Sik's team compared to Bangladesh or Singapore U23. This is because Vietnam's two previous opponents focused primarily on defense. Since the West Asian team also wants to beat Vietnam U23 to secure a place in the finals, they will likely push forward to score goals.
"The Vietnam U23 team is very strong. They play very fast and directly, so they will cause us a lot of difficulties. However, the whole team will be well prepared. Hopefully, the Yemen U23 team will get a good result," said coach Amin Al Suneini.
The Yemen U23 team knows how to play attacking football, so it won't be easy for the home team, Vietnam U23, to attack as freely as in the previous two matches. Coach Amin Al Suneini's confidence in scoring goals rests on the trio of forwards who recently played for the Yemen national team in the final qualifying round of the 2027 Asian Cup in June.
Among them, Hamzah Mahross is a formidable striker, having played 11 matches for the national team, 6 of which were in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Therefore, the experience of this 21-year-old player will force the Vietnam U23 defense to play cautiously.
Coach Kim Sang Sik aims to win 3 points against Yemen U23 - Photo: TTO
Let's wait and see the true strength of the Vietnam U23 team.
In the 2024 U23 Asian Cup qualifiers, also held at Viet Tri Stadium in September 2023, hosts Vietnam U23 defeated Yemen U23 1-0 thanks to a goal by Bui Vi Hao in the 84th minute. However, anything can happen in this rematch, especially since coach Kim Sang Sik's current strikers are having problems with their finishing.
Experienced players like Dinh Bac and Van Khang, who have played for the Vietnamese national team, also failed to convert many clear-cut scoring opportunities in the last two matches. The two highly anticipated strikers, Viktor Le and Thanh Nhan, also missed several clear chances to score.
Fortunately, coach Kim Sang Sik's new players all managed to shine. Ngoc My scored the opening goal in the win against U23 Bangladesh, while Le Van Thuan was the hero with the only goal in the victory against U23 Singapore.
Coach Kim Sang Sik rotated six positions in the starting lineup over the last two matches. Except for center-back Tuan Phong, who started in place of Ly Duc in the match against U23 Singapore, the South Korean coach only made changes to the midfield and attack.
All these changes were aimed at helping the Vietnam U23 team improve their attacking and scoring abilities. However, Kim's gains from these changes were not significant.
Therefore, coach Kim Sang Sik is now forced to field what is considered the strongest lineup of the Vietnam U23 team for the crucial match against Yemen U23. The significance of this is not only about securing a place in the finals but also about proving their true capabilities to experts and fans.
With a Yemen U23 team eager to score and not defending in large numbers, this will be a good opportunity for Vietnam U23 to launch attacks. Especially their strong left wing, with playmaker Phi Hoang creating chances for the forwards to score.
The Vietnam U23 team must showcase impressive attacking play and score goals, but they shouldn't forget about defense, as the Yemen U23 team has quality players. This will certainly be a match where the Vietnam U23 defense will have to work harder, instead of being as relaxed as in the previous two matches.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/vong-loai-u23-chau-a-2026-u23-viet-nam-uu-tien-viec-gianh-ve-20250909100119358.htm
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