Chinese netizens react with shock to seeing Vietnam's U23 team defeat South Korea, raising numerous questions.

Coach Kim Sang-sik's team experienced two completely opposite extremes: just three days after losing to China's U23 team, they knocked out South Korea. Many Chinese fans couldn't believe their eyes and searched for an explanation.

The match between Vietnam U23 and South Korea U23 for the bronze medal at the AFC U23 Asian Championship was dramatic every second. Following Vietnam's nail-biting victory over South Korea on penalties and the earlier brilliance of the "Golden Star Warriors," the Chinese online community was surprised, while also strengthening their belief in their own team ahead of their decisive final match against Japan U23.

Many people wondered why, given the flexible, tenacious, and powerful style of play of the Vietnam U23 team in the 3rd-4th place match, they suffered such a bitter 0-3 defeat against China. Below posts and videos of the match between Vietnam U23 and South Korea U23, numerous Chinese netizens commented: "Is our team really that strong?", "It feels a little unfamiliar," "11 tall, strong guys couldn't even beat 10 Vietnamese players"...

According to analysts, the defeat against China U23, viewed fairly, was the price Vietnam U23 paid for their "naivety" in approaching the match. After winning all their group stage matches and an impressive victory against the UAE in the quarter-finals, the players entered the semi-finals with high confidence. The team's formation was high, ready to play an attacking game against an equally matched opponent. However, their physical condition had been severely depleted after a series of intense matches, coupled with China's thorough preparation, which ultimately cost Vietnam U23 dearly.

China unexpectedly abandoned their usual defensive style, switching to aggressive pressing, exploiting the fatigued legs of Vietnam's key players – who had been playing continuously since the SEA Games. When center-back Hieu Minh was injured and left the field, the already fragile defense began to collapse in a chain reaction. The 0-3 defeat was not only a loss in terms of the score, but also a severe psychological shock.

But that turned out to be a turning point. Before the third-place match against South Korea U23, coach Kim Sang-sik made a bold decision that surprised the experts: he changed nine positions in the starting lineup. Players who were exhausted were rested, making way for "reserve" players eager to prove themselves, such as Cao Van Binh, Le Van Thuan, and Nguyen Quoc Viet.

This change brought two physical benefits, enabling the Vietnam U23 team to keep up and compete in one-on-one duels with the tall and strong South Korean players throughout the 120 minutes. In terms of playing style, the team returned to its familiar pragmatism: possession of the ball for only 24%, "parking the bus" in front of the goal, and launching sharp counter-attacks. Quoc Viet's goal from a perfect counter-attack and Dinh Bac's free-kick are proof of maximum efficiency despite the limited number of chances created.

Besides tactical factors, the difference in motivation also played a crucial role. China, in the semi-finals, had a strong desire to assert their position and reach the final. Conversely, the South Korean U23 team entered the third-place match with the heavy heart of a team that had not achieved its championship goal. The Vietnamese U23 team's morale reached its peak when they were down to 10 men after Dinh Bac received a red card. Instead of collapsing as they did against China, the players tightened their formation into a solid unit, with goalkeeper Cao Van Binh as the anchor.

Korean media shocked by Vietnam's victory with 10 players, calling it a "disaster," Asia bows in admiration. Hải Dương07:53:46 24/01/2026Vietnam's nail-biting victory over South Korea in the third-place match of the AFC U23 Asian Championship created a real sensation in the South Korean media. Korean newspapers are still reeling from the shock.