Did Dinh Bac run out of steam against China's U23 team, and Ly Duc's red card lead to Vietnam's crushing defeat?

The 0-3 defeat against China U23 in the semi-finals left many feeling regretful as Vietnam U23 unexpectedly lost control of the game. Ly Duc's direct red card and Dinh Bac's exhaustion became painful turning points that left netizens feeling disappointed.

When the "trigger" Dinh Bac was contained and Kim made tactical mistakes.

Entering the historic semi-final match, fans expected an explosive performance from Nguyen Dinh Bac. However, the reality on the Al-Faisal pitch was a somber one. The striker from Nghe An entered the match with heavy legs due to injuries from the group stage that had not fully recovered. Recognizing the danger posed by Vietnam's number 7, the opposing coach assigned 3 to 4 players to constantly press and neutralize Bac whenever he had the ball. This special "attention," coupled with his declining physical condition, left Dinh Bac completely exhausted and unable to create the breakthrough plays that were expected.

Dinh Bac's predicament worsened when coach Kim Sang-sik made controversial personnel choices. Bringing on three inexperienced young players – Le Phat, Ngoc My, and Cong Phuong – in the attacking line caused the Vietnam U23 team to completely lose control of the ball. Throughout the first half, the ball mostly stayed in their own half, forcing Kim's players to retreat and defend desperately. The 37% possession rate is the clearest evidence of a passive and lackluster first half for the red-shirted team.

The aerial disaster and the cruel red card for Ly Duc.

The nightmare for the Vietnam U23 team truly began when their key central defender, Nguyen Hieu Minh, suffered a serious injury and had to leave the field early. Losing their defensive "pillar," the Vietnamese defense revealed a fatal weakness in aerial ability. At the beginning of the second half, from a corner kick, the China U23 team punished the Vietnamese defense's confusion with a close-range header to open the scoring. Just a few minutes later, before their spirits could recover, goalkeeper Trung Kien's net was shaken for the second time after a neat finish by Xiang Yuwang.

All hopes of a comeback officially ended in the 73rd minute when Pham Ly Duc received a direct red card. In a set-piece situation, after consulting VAR, the referee determined that the central defender from CAHN had committed a violent foul and sent him off. Playing with ten men and with their morale low, the Vietnam U23 team conceded a third goal in the eighth minute of added time. The 0-3 defeat was not only a heavy loss, but also the pain of helplessness against an opponent who had thoroughly studied our playing style.

A belated apology and a costly lesson for young players.

Immediately after the match, Pham Ly Duc posted a heartfelt message on his personal page to apologize to the public: "An apology is never enough... I sincerely bow my head and apologize to Vietnamese fans." The image of Ly Duc silently leaving the field with a sorrowful face is one of the most haunting moments of the semi-final night. The red card not only caused his team to suffer a crushing defeat but also served as a painful lesson about composure and mental strength in high-stakes matches.

Although their journey to the championship has ended, the Vietnam U23 team still has the third-place match against South Korea U23 to salvage some hope among fans. The defeat against China U23 was a regrettable setback, but it was also an opportunity for young players like Dinh Bac and Ly Duc to reflect on themselves, grow from their mistakes, and continue to contribute to Vietnamese football in the future.

Trung Kien and Dinh Bac's shocking exchange of witty remarks attracts 7 million views, netizens are shipping them as a couple. Thảo Mai16:49:46 20/01/2026During the period when the Vietnam U23 team was performing brilliantly at the AFC U23 Asian Championship, the young players not only attracted attention for their on-field performances but also became a prominent topic on social media.