'Upset' by U23 Saudi Arabia, U23 Vietnam wins all matches to advance to the quarterfinals

The match between host U23 Saudi Arabia and U23 Vietnam in Group A of the 2026 U23 Asian Championship took place at 23:30 on January 12 at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium, showcasing a brave performance from coach Kim Sang Sik’s team against a stronger opponent.

The first half was tightly contested, with U23 Saudi Arabia controlling possession and creating several dangerous chances. Shots from Abdulaziz, Musab, and Thamer repeatedly tested the U23 Vietnam defense, including a header from Thamer that hit the post. However, goalkeeper Trung Kiên performed excellently, making timely rushes and precise saves to keep a clean sheet. U23 Vietnam also launched notable counterattacks but failed to score. The half ended 0-0.

In the second half, U23 Saudi Arabia increased pressure with central combinations and long-range shots, yet Trung Kiên remained a reliable pillar. In the 64th minute, a turning point came when Ngọc Mỹ cleverly passed to Đình Bắc, who was substituted on. Despite a very tight angle and close marking, the U23 Vietnam striker unleashed a decisive left-footed shot to score a stunning goal and open the scoring at 1-0.

After conceding, U23 Saudi Arabia threw everything forward, creating numerous dangerous chances, especially a close-range header by Alobaid and a powerful shot by Faisal, but they were all denied by the resilient defense and goalkeeper Trung Kiên.

U23 Vietnam also had opportunities to extend their lead when Lê Phát broke through one-on-one with the goalkeeper but failed to score. In the end, U23 Vietnam preserved their 1-0 victory.

With this result, U23 Vietnam advanced as the top team in Group A with 9 points. Following this loss, U23 Saudi Arabia was officially eliminated. U23 Jordan secured the other qualifying spot in Group A after a 1-0 win over U23 Kyrgyzstan.