Vietnam Stun South Korea to Claim Historic Asian Cup Bronze
JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia - In a night of breathless drama at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, Vietnam’s U23 squad etched their names into history, defeating South Korea 7–6 on penalties to secure the bronze medal at the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup.
Battling with ten men for over 30 minutes and conceding a heart-breaking equalizer deep in stoppage time, the Golden Star Warriors showed nerves of steel to triumph in the shootout after a pulsating 2–2 draw.
The victory marks Vietnam's first-ever win against South Korea at the U23 level, a milestone achieved through sheer grit and a tactical masterclass from head coach Kim Sang-sik against his compatriots.
Coming off a difficult 0–3 semi-final loss to China, questions swirled around Vietnam’s physical fitness and mental resilience. Facing a South Korean side that had dominated possession throughout the tournament, few gave the Southeast Asian representatives a chance.
Yet, Vietnam started with intent, absorbing early pressure and striking on the counter. The breakthrough came in the 30th minute. A swift transition saw captain Nguyen Dinh Bac tee up Nguyen Quoc Viet, who rifled a finish into the top corner, stunning the Taeguk Warriors and sending the small contingent of Vietnamese fans in Jeddah into rapture.
The second half evolved into a chaotic thriller. South Korea, desperate to avoid finishing fourth, threw everything forward and found an equalizer in the 68th minute through Kim Tae-won, who slotted home a low drive.
But the drama was only beginning. Just three minutes later, Nguyen Dinh Bac produced the moment of the match. Standing over a free-kick 20 meters out, the Vietnamese captain curled a sensational effort into the top right corner, restoring Vietnam’s lead at 2–1.
However, Dinh Bac’s night took a dark turn in the 86th minute. A rash challenge in midfield earned him a straight red card, leaving his teammates to survive the final onslaught with ten men.
South Korea capitalized on the advantage in the cruelest fashion. In the seventh minute of stoppage time (90+7’), Shin Min-ha pounced on a loose ball in the box to make it 2–2, forcing extra time just seconds before the final whistle.
Extra time was a siege. With a numerical disadvantage, Vietnam retreated into a disciplined 5-4-0 defensive block. Goalkeeper Cao Van Binh became the protagonist, producing two world-class saves to deny South Korea’s aerial bombardment. The image of exhausted Vietnamese defenders throwing their bodies in the way of shots became the defining visual of the night.
When the whistle blew for penalties, the momentum seemed to be with South Korea. But Vietnam’s composure from the spot was flawless.
Both teams converted their first six kicks with icy precision. In the seventh round, after Nguyen Thanh Nhan buried his penalty to put Vietnam up 7–6, the pressure fell on South Korea’s Bae Hyun-seo. The midfielder’s shot blazed over the crossbar, sparking wild celebrations from the Vietnamese bench.
For Vietnam, the bronze medal is more than a consolation prize; it is a statement of intent. In a tournament where they were written off, they toppled giants, culminating in a miracle in the desert that will be spoken of for years to come.