Joy and tears of Vietnamese fans at Changzhou Stadium

Ha Duc from the Hangzhou International Students Association was one of thousands of Vietnamese fans present at Changzhou Stadium, China, on January 27 to watch the brave match of the Vietnam U23 team against Uzbekistan in the final match of the 2018 AFC U23 Championship.

Share withVnExpressRegarding his journey, Duc said that although it was a bit "uneasy having to travel a long distance in the rain and snow", he and other fans still "felt worthy and proud".

"Only those who have been there to cheer for the players can fully feel the vibrant, devoted atmosphere of the fans as well as the hard work and intensity of the players on the field, the anxiety and expectations of the coaches when watching each pass of their students. We, international students in Hangzhou, had such a wonderful experience!", Duc expressed.

Duc said that as soon as he arrived at Changzhou Stadium, his group immediately met a group of Vietnamese fans with red flags, yellow stars, pictures of Uncle Ho and slogans cheering for the home team. He no longer felt cold even though the surroundings were covered in white snow, instead he felt "teary" and "affectionate".

The emotions in Duc when entering the field were even more intense when witnessing thousands of Vietnamese people attentively following the footsteps of the players. "The sounds of drums, trumpets, cheers of 'Vietnam, keep going', 'Vietnam is the champion', the chants that became the slogan 'Vietnam Ho Chi Minh' constantly resounded," he described.

"In the stands, our hearts ached when we saw the players trying their best and then slipping on the snow," he shared. "Seeing them moving in the harsh weather, perhaps the word 'Love' cannot fully express our feelings."

Talking about the match, Duc said that in the 41st minute, when Quang Hai scored against Uzbekistan, equalizing for U23 Vietnam, everyone "burst with happiness". But in the 119th minute, the last seconds of the second extra time, when the ball from the Uzbekistan player's foot flew into the Vietnamese goal, "many people could not hold back their tears".

However, after a minute of calm, the fans continued to chant "Vietnam" as if nothing had happened. "The score at that time was no longer important to us, what was important was that our players played so beautifully and so heroically," Duc affirmed.

Returning after an emotional match, for Duc, what the U23 Vietnam players showed will "forever be unforgettable". "Coach Park Hang-seo and his team were so excellent with the silver medal they brought to the country's football, to the entire Vietnamese people. Although there is a bit of regret for missing out on the highest award, I believe the U23 Vietnam players won this match, completely deserving the gold cup in the hearts of the fans", he affirmed.