Chinese coach boasts after victory over Vietnam U23, Weibo explodes with 'a sleepless night'.

In the early hours of January 21, 2026, the most unbelievable scenario in the U23 Asian Championship semi-finals unfolded. U23 China – a team previously doubted for its goal-scoring ability – unexpectedly transformed, defeating their formidable opponent, U23 Vietnam, with a resounding 3-0 victory.

The "madness" named Antonio Puche

Immediately after the final whistle, coach Antonio Puche couldn't hide his extreme excitement. The Spanish strategist called it a "crazy" match in the most positive sense. This was the first time in this year's tournament that the Chinese U23 team abandoned their pragmatic style of play to showcase a fiery attacking display.

"My players played an outstanding game both with and without the ball. They fought tirelessly to create a high-class victory," coach Puche proudly shared.

The secret to the Chinese team's success lies in their ability to completely control the game. Instead of retreating deep into defense, they proactively pushed their formation high up the field, suffocating the Vietnamese U23 team's playing space right from the opponent's half.

The "transformation" tactic leaves opponents stunned.

Before the match, the Vietnam U23 team was considered the favorite by experts due to their consistent performance. However, the reality on the field in the early hours of January 21st was completely different.

Dominating the midfield: For the first time in the tournament, the Chinese U23 team imposed their tempo, forcing the Vietnamese midfielders into a passive position. Blocking counter-attacks: Superior ball control allowed China to completely neutralize the strongest point of the Vietnamese U23 team. The inevitable consequence: Three goals served as confirmation of the Chinese players' dominance in both tactics and physical fitness.

Media and social media have exploded.

The 3-0 victory not only propelled the Chinese U23 team into the continental final for the first time but also created a media frenzy. Sina Sports described it as a "historic victory," asserting that the Vietnamese U23 team was the "toughest test" they had ever overcome.

On the social media platform Weibo , keywords related to the match quickly climbed to the top of trending topics. Notably, alongside the excitement, the Chinese online community also showed respect for the Vietnamese U23 team. Many acknowledged that Vietnam was a well-organized team with solid technique, and only truly collapsed after the first goal conceded from a set piece.

Faith has returned after years of being lost.

The victory on the morning of January 21st was more than just a football result. For Chinese fans, it was proof of progress and a basis for them to regain faith in their country's youth football after a long period of stagnation.

Overcoming the "mountain" of Vietnam U23 with an incredible performance in the early hours of January 21st, China U23 officially shed the shadow of the past to write a new, proud chapter for their country's youth football. From the position of an underdog, China U23 confidently advanced to the final with a proactive and convincing style of play. As coach Puche said, it was a high-level "madness". Vietnam U23 still has a third-place match against South Korea on January 23rd. The following day is the final between Japan U23 and China U23 at the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City Stadium.

Chinese coach creates a smokescreen, secretly scouts, and points out 3 weaknesses of Vietnam U23 team. An Nhiên10:30:50 19/01/2026Following their explosive performances, the tickets to the semi-finals of the 2026 AFC U23 Championship have gone to two rivals with a long history of rivalry: Vietnam U23 and China U23. Their clash on January 20th will be a battle for a place in the final.