Uzbekistan win 2-0 but Vietnam U23 still reach ASIAD 2026 quarter-finals

On the afternoon of September 22, Vietnam U23 entered their final group C match at the 2026 ASIAD against Uzbekistan at Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya. Uzbekistan were considered the strongest team in the group, and the difficult scenario appeared early when the opponents scored in the 5th minute. Mohammadali Urinboev finished precisely to put Uzbekistan ahead. The early goal forced Vietnam to respond, but shots from Nguyen Thai Quoc Cuong and Nguyen Ngoc My could not beat the opposing defense. Head coach Dinh Hong Vinh admitted that starting cautiously was his plan against a strong team. However, Uzbekistan raised the tempo from the first minutes and only needed a moment of defensive lapse from Vietnam to open the scoring. After conceding, his players gradually regained confidence and controlled the game. They built attacks better and created clear chances. Nguyen Thanh Nhan once put the ball into the net against the Central Asian team, but the goal was disallowed for offside. If those first-half chances had been converted, the match situation could have been completely different. Notably, in the 35th minute, central midfielder Nguyen Xuan Bac suffered an injury and had to leave the pitch. This was a big loss for Vietnam U23, because Xuan Bac was crucial in keeping the rhythm and transitioning play. Coach Dinh Hong Vinh said his absence stopped Vietnam from maintaining pressure and led to attacking deadlock. In the second half, Uzbekistan continued to show their class. In the 68th minute, Ibraimov dribbled past Pham Ly Duc and fired a powerful shot inside the box, beating goalkeeper Cao Van Binh to seal the 2-0 win. Despite the loss, Vietnam U23 still advanced from the group thanks to the concurrent result. The Philippines beat Kuwait 2-1, helping Vietnam finish second in Group C with four points. Uzbekistan topped the group with five points, while the Philippines had three points and Kuwait were eliminated. The quarter-final ticket was a deserved reward for the efforts of coach Dinh Hong Vinh and his players throughout the group stage. Looking back, coach Dinh Hong Vinh expressed satisfaction with the players' attitude and fighting spirit. However, he also pointed out weaknesses that need to be fixed. One of the biggest problems was finishing. According to statistics, Vietnam U23 attempted 51 shots in three matches, but only 17 were on target and they scored three goals. That low efficiency reflected what happened on the pitch, as the team created many chances but lacked sharpness in decisive moments. Coach Dinh Hong Vinh explained that the team were still slow in rhythm and lacked smoothness in their play. Partly, this was because they only had three days of preparation before the 2026 ASIAD. The combination of players who just took part in the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup finals with new faces was not yet cohesive. Vinh stressed that the new players would gain valuable experience to improve in the future, especially when playing alongside those accustomed to major tournament pressure. Although there are still many things to improve, reaching the quarter-finals is an early achievement worth noting. Vietnam U23 will wait for the result of the match between South Korea and Saudi Arabia in the final round of Group D to determine their next opponent. If South Korea draw or win, they will top Group D and face Vietnam in the quarter-finals. South Korea are considered one of the favourites for the ASIAD 2026 gold medal with a strong squad, including three quality overage players. They also have huge motivation because winning gold will grant players exemption from mandatory military service under South Korean law. Coach Dinh Hong Vinh said the team will be mentally ready for any opponent, whether South Korea or Saudi Arabia. He identified the immediate task as helping players recover physically after three intense matches. In addition, the coaching staff will closely monitor injuries to Nguyen Xuan Bac and Nguyen Thai Quoc Cuong to work out the best replacement options. The quarter-final will take place on September 25, again at Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya. It cannot be denied that Vietnam U23 had a memorable group stage at the 2026 ASIAD. Their fighting spirit, confidence and clear tactical patterns were bright spots. However, to go further, coach Dinh Hong Vinh's side need to significantly improve their finishing and coordination between the lines. The match against Uzbekistan was a useful warning before the knockout stage, where small mistakes can be punished by the final result. Expectations from fans are now on the young players. They have nothing to lose, but they cannot afford to be complacent. Vietnam U23 need to make the most of the remaining time to refine their play, sharpen their finishing and prepare thoroughly both physically and mentally. Their ASIAD 2026 journey is not over yet, and the players in red are facing a historic opportunity to write their own fairy tale.