U23 Vietnam faces U23 South Korea: A match of hearts that never give up

With the brief caption: “They gave their all. They put their whole hearts on the pitch. A memorable AFC U23 campaign by the Vietnamese heroes,” the 19-second video shows goalkeeper Trung Kiên, midfielder Khuất Văn Khang, Xuân Bắc, and several other U23 Vietnam players with tears in their eyes, looking toward the stands to thank the fans who came to watch and cheer after the semifinal against U23 China.

Although the match ended two days ago, the 0-3 loss still leaves many regrets for U23 Vietnam. However, coach Kim Sang Sik’s team still has the third-place playoff against U23 South Korea at 10 PM on January 23 (Vietnam time) before departing Saudi Arabia, concluding a journey full of emotions and impressive performances. Tonight’s game promises to be an open and exciting contest, as both teams aim to finish the tournament with a medal.

Currently, U23 South Korea faces immense pressure and is determined to restore faith among their home supporters with a convincing win after some inconsistent performances earlier. Meanwhile, the biggest challenge for coach Kim Sang Sik in this match is the defensive lineup. Due to the absence of several key players from injuries and suspensions after exhausting matches, U23 Vietnam must enter the final game with a makeshift defense.

Nonetheless, experts believe U23 Vietnam will put aside their squad setbacks to deliver a dedicated performance as a tribute to their fans.