Ly Duc apologizes for the red card, faces a storm of anger from Vietnamese fans, while Thai supporters defend him in shock.

The 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup semi-final between Vietnam U23 and China U23 ended with bitter disappointment in the early hours of January 21st. The focus of attention wasn't just the 0-3 scoreline, but also the moment of "losing control" by center-back Pham Ly Duc.

Following the harsh red card that eliminated the Vietnam U23 team, Pham Ly Duc, despite his apology, could not escape the wrath of his fans, while the Thai online community unexpectedly showed sympathy and support for the young player.

The cruel 74th minute and the "storm" from cyberspace.

The semi-final match was at its most tense point when a terrible turning point occurred in the 74th minute. Unable to control his emotions in response to the opponent's time-wasting tactics, center-back Pham Ly Duc committed a foul inside the penalty area. The referee did not hesitate to show a direct red card, sending the CAHN player off the field.

Immediately, a storm of criticism swept through the young player's personal page. Many Vietnamese fans couldn't hide their disappointment, flooding the page with harsh comments. They argued that Ly Duc's actions lacked composure and ruined the team's efforts, especially as the U23 Vietnam team was desperately trying to find an equalizer. For many, losing his temper in a high-stakes match was an unforgivable mistake, particularly when the home team was chasing the game.

Powerlessness and a belated apology.

The loss of a crucial defender caused the Vietnamese U23 defense to crumble. Despite the attacking players' efforts to push forward and create scoring opportunities, they were unable to overcome the excellent performance of Chinese goalkeeper Li Hao. The tragedy ended in the 90th minute of added time when Wang Yudong sealed a 3-0 victory for China with a sharp counter-attack.

After the match, in the mindset of someone who had just experienced the biggest shock of his young career, Pham Ly Duc spoke out. Without justifying his actions, the central defender could only offer a sincere apology: "An apology is never enough... I sincerely bow my head and apologize to the Vietnamese fans. Thank you for everything that supported us." This statement revealed the profound remorse of a young player after paying such a high price for a moment of lack of self-control.

A humanistic perspective from a sworn enemy.

Amidst the divided public opinion in Thailand regarding the red card, an unexpected development emerged from Thai fans. Instead of the usual sarcastic remarks seen in regional clashes, the Thai online community showed surprising understanding towards the Vietnamese U23 team and Ly Duc.

On major football forums in Thailand, many fans believe that this defeat was due to the Vietnamese U23 team experiencing too much bad luck: from losing key player Hieu Minh early due to injury to the immense psychological pressure of falling behind. One comment that received much agreement read: "Youth football is about learning. This is an experience that everyone must go through to grow." Many Thais still maintain that the Vietnamese U23 team is the pride of Southeast Asia on the continental stage thanks to their organized playing style and tenacious fighting spirit throughout the tournament.

Dinh Bac suffers from "star syndrome," receives shocking criticism for "delusions about his own worth." An Lâm18:32:37 19/01/2026Once labeled as delusional and facing a media crisis, Nguyen Dinh Bac in 2025 has made a spectacular comeback to become an irreplaceable pillar of Vietnamese football.