U23 Jordan causes a 'shockwave,' U23 Vietnam has not yet secured an early spot in the knockout stage.

The "shock" caused by U23 Jordan has made Group A's situation unpredictable. Currently, U23 Vietnam leads the group with 6 points, followed by Jordan and Saudi Arabia, each with 3 points.

In the last round, U23 Saudi Arabia will face Vietnam, while Jordan only meets Kyrgyzstan, who have no goals left to pursue. From nearly securing an early qualification, U23 Vietnam now must earn at least one point against the hosts to control their destiny.

The worst-case scenario could happen if U23 Vietnam suffers a heavy defeat to Saudi Arabia, while Jordan also wins by a large margin. Then, goal difference will be considered, potentially eliminating Coach Kim Sang-sik’s team despite having 6 points like the two rivals.

With the home advantage and a strong squad, Saudi Arabia started proactively and scored the opening goal at the 19th minute through a well-positioned, precise finish by young star Rakan Al Ghamdi, currently playing for Al Nassr.

After conceding, U23 Jordan surged back fiercely, thrilling fans with two stunning goals against the hosts. At the 38th minute, Azaizeh struck a technical shot from outside the box, leaving goalkeeper Yousef rooted to the spot. Before halftime, Azaizeh forced the Saudi keeper to retrieve the ball from the net again following a quality volley after a defensive error by the home side.

Early in the second half, Saudi Arabia pressed forward. After a superb goal was disallowed for offside, the 2026 Asian Cup hosts equalized 2-2 with a precise penalty kick by Al Juwayr.

As the home fans dreamed of a comeback, U23 Jordan needed just one chance to regain the lead. At the 74th minute, Mahmoud Khrouba unleashed a sharp shot inside the box, which deflected off a blue-shirted defender and went into the net.

The drama intensified in the final minutes when the referee initially awarded a penalty to U23 Saudi Arabia but then reversed the decision after consulting VAR, even issuing a yellow card to a home player. The limited remaining time was not enough for Saudi Arabia to score again, leaving them in a desperate position for the last match.