U23 Vietnam - U23 China: A Battle of Strength and Stability

In this match, U23 Vietnam’s attack, which has scored 8 goals, faces the challenge of breaking through the "wall" that U23 China’s defense has yet to concede against.

While U23 Vietnam impresses with four consecutive wins, U23 China has struggled every step of the way to reach the top 4 for the first time. The match between U23 Vietnam and U23 China highlights not only a stark contrast in statistics but also a clash of two completely different football philosophies.

Under the guidance of coach Kim Sang-sik, U23 Vietnam has transformed into a proactive team. They reached the semifinals with the resilience of a squad driven by ambition, ready to compete fairly against any opponent.

Without relying on luck or individual brilliance, U23 Vietnam progresses from one victory to another thanks to a smooth ball control and passing system, along with creativity and technical skill in attack. Additionally, coach Kim Sang-sik masters the art of winning by knowing exactly how and when to finish off opponents.

Meanwhile, U23 China advanced to the semifinals through an unusual scenario. They deliberately ceded possession, compacted their defense, and waited for luck in penalty shootouts. This pragmatic style helped U23 China move forward.

U23 China’s disciplined and persistent defensive style has made their matches somewhat dull, but goalkeeper Li Hao and his teammates focus primarily on securing progression.

U23 China is known for its defensive strength. However, coach Antonio’s team is not unbeatable. Just over two months ago, U23 Vietnam exploited their opponent’s fatigue to score a decisive close-range goal by Minh Phúc.

This is the first time U23 Vietnam and U23 China have met at an AFC U23 Asian Cup final tournament.

U23 Vietnam is in dominant form, winning all four matches played so far this year. This equals the total number of wins from their previous five tournament participations combined.

In this year’s event, coach Kim Sang-sik’s players have improved their scoring record by netting 8 goals, matching their best scoring tally from the 2018 tournament (when Vietnam finished as runners-up).

On the other hand, U23 China has shown a very pragmatic style of play, having recorded three goalless draws in this tournament. This is a record for the most 0-0 draws by a team in a single edition.

Notably, coach Antonio Puche’s team has kept a perfect clean sheet record on their way to the semifinals.

Statistics show that in the last 16 matches since early 2025, U23 China has conceded only 5 goals, with U23 Vietnam scoring twice against them. Besides the Panda Cup win, U23 Vietnam also scored in a 1-1 draw against U23 China at the CFA Team China Cup 2025.

This promises to be an exciting showdown between U23 Vietnam’s sharp attack and the “steel shield” of U23 China, goalkeeper Li Hao. According to stats, he has made 24 saves, the highest number by any goalkeeper in the last four AFC U23 Asian Cups.

U23 China boasts a strong defensive trio of Peng Xiao, He Yiran, and Umidjan Yusup, forming one of the toughest backlines in the tournament. Facing this “wall,” direct attacks with crosses or simple long balls will be risky, as U23 Uzbekistan once experienced.

U23 Vietnam needs the flexibility that coach Kim Sang-sik has clearly demonstrated in the first four matches: swapping positions between forwards and attacking midfielders, making runs from the second line, and exploiting spaces between wide center-backs and full-backs.

Selective long-range shots are also a tactic to force goalkeeper Li Hao into action, creating chances for second balls.

U23 Vietnam is eager to settle the match within the regular 90 minutes, rather than endure a physically and mentally draining 120 minutes or a penalty shootout.

Most likely, the Korean coach will instruct U23 Vietnam to “attack aggressively” from the start, using speedy players like Ngọc Mỹ, Lê Phát, and Quốc Việt to wear down the opponent. Key tactical players such as Đình Bắc, Văn Thuận, and Thanh Nhàn will be introduced in the second half to deliver the decisive blow.

If victorious, U23 Vietnam will reach the AFC U23 Asian Cup final for the second time in history, while U23 China will make their debut in the final match. Coach Kim Sang-sik’s team aims to create a new historic milestone, surpassing the achievement at Thường Châu in 2018. To make this happen, U23 Vietnam must defeat U23 China in the semifinal. The young Golden Star warriors have truly earned everyone’s confidence after impressive performances against hosts U23 Saudi Arabia, as well as strong teams U23 UAE and U23 Jordan.

The semifinal between U23 Vietnam and U23 China will kick off at 10:30 PM on January 20 at Al Faisal Stadium (Saudi Arabia). The two teams have contrasting playing styles. Vietnamese fans hope coach Kim Sang-sik will continue to utilize tactical flexibility and tap into the strong spirit of U23 Vietnam’s players.

Expected starting lineups for U23 Vietnam and U23 China:

U23 Vietnam: Trung Kiên, Lý Đức, Hiểu Minh, Nhật Minh, Minh Phúc, Xuân Bắc, Thái Sơn, Văn Khang, Ngọc Mỹ, Thanh Nhàn, Lê Phát

U23 China: Li Hao, Hu Hetao, He Yiran, Umidjan Yusup, Xu Bin, Mutellip Iminqari, Peng Xiao, Li Zhenquan, Behram Abduweli, Wang Yudong, Yang Xi