Vietnam U23s Edge Closer to Quarter-finals with Gritty Victory Over Kyrgyz Republic
JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia – The Vietnam U23 national team has taken a giant leap toward the knockout stages of the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026, securing a hard-fought 2-1 victory over the Kyrgyz Republic at the Alinma Stadium on Friday evening. With this result, Vietnam maintains a perfect start to their Group A campaign, sitting at the top of the table with six points from two matches. The victory puts them in prime position to qualify for the quarter-finals, pending the late kick-off between hosts Saudi Arabia and Jordan.
Coming off a disciplined 2-0 win against Jordan in their opener, Vietnam entered the match with high confidence but faced a desperate Kyrgyzstan side fighting for their tournament lives after an opening loss.
The match began with high intensity. Vietnam controlled the early tempo, utilizing quick transitions to exploit gaps in the Kyrgyz defense. The breakthrough came in the 19th minute. After a fluid passing sequence down the right flank, midfielder Khuat Van Khang cut inside and unleashed a curling shot that left the Kyrgyz goalkeeper with no chance, making it 1-0.
However, the Kyrgyz Republic responded with physicality and direct play. Just before halftime, they found an equalizer against the run of play. A set-piece scramble in the box allowed their forward to poke the ball home, sending the teams into the break level at 1-1.
The second half was a tense affair, with both sides cautious of making a fatal error. Vietnam’s head coach, Kim Sang-sik, made decisive tactical changes in the 65th minute, introducing fresh legs to the attack to break the deadlock.
The gamble paid off in the 87th minute. Substitute striker Nguyen Van Truong capitalized on a defensive lapse from Kyrgyzstan. Latching onto a long ball, he outmuscled his marker and slotted a composed finish into the bottom corner to restore Vietnam's lead at 2-1.
Kyrgyzstan threw everything forward in the dying minutes, forcing Vietnam’s defense into a series of desperate clearances. Goalkeeper Quan Van Chuan was called into action twice in stoppage time, producing a vital save to deny a close-range header and preserve the three points.
Speaking after the match, Vietnam’s head coach praised his team’s resilience.
"It was a very difficult match physically. Kyrgyzstan is a strong team and they fought until the last second," the coach said in the post-match press conference. "I am proud of my players. They kept their focus when the score was 1-1 and showed the spirit needed to win tournaments. We have six points now, but the job is not finished. We must prepare for Saudi Arabia."