Coach Dinh Hong Vinh not satisfied despite U23 Vietnam reaching ASIAD 2026 quarter-finals

Nagoya, Japan – U23 Vietnam have secured a place in the ASIAD 2026 quarter-finals, but head coach Dinh Hong Vinh was not satisfied with the team's performance in a 0-2 loss to Uzbekistan in their final Group C match. Despite controlling much of the game, his players showed clear problems in finishing, attacking fluidity and creating chances in the final third. Vietnam conceded in the fifth minute when Mohammadali Urinboev finished calmly inside the box after a lack of concentration in defence. The early goal forced Vietnam to push forward. They controlled possession and created several opportunities, but Nguyen Thai Quoc Cuong and Nguyen Ngoc My could not find the target. Nguyen Thanh Nhan had the ball in the net, but the goal was disallowed for offside. In the 35th minute, central midfielder Nguyen Xuan Bac left the pitch injured. Coach Dinh Hong Vinh admitted that this weakened the team's ability to control the tempo and transition. Uzbekistan extended their lead in the 68th minute through Ibraimov, who dribbled past Pham Ly Duc and fired past goalkeeper Cao Van Binh. Vietnam lost 0-2 but advanced because the Philippines beat Kuwait 2-1. Vietnam finished second in Group C with four points, five behind Uzbekistan and one above the Philippines. The coach praised his players' attitude and fighting spirit. However, he pointed out that the team were still slow, attacked inefficiently and did not exploit the opposition's final third well. Vietnam had 51 shots in the group stage but only 17 on target, scoring three goals. Coach Dinh Hong Vinh said the team had only three days of preparation before the tournament, which explained the lack of cohesion. He expects the young players to improve after playing alongside the group that competed at the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup finals. At the quarter-finals, Vietnam could face South Korea if the East Asian side finish top of Group D. South Korea are considered gold-medal favourites, with three quality overage players and strong motivation from the military service exemption policy. Vietnam will play their quarter-final at Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya on September 25. The coaching staff will focus on recovery and assess injuries to Nguyen Xuan Bac and Nguyen Thai Quoc Cuong before deciding on replacements.