Kyrgyzstan U23 team wins overwhelmingly 6-0 ahead of Asian tournament.
Vietnam U23's opponent in Group A, Kyrgyzstan U23, just secured a 6-0 victory against the Arabian Falcons after unexpectedly canceling their friendly match against China U23 in the UAE.
In preparation for the 2026 AFC U23 Championship, Kyrgyzstan U23 – one of Vietnam U23's direct rivals in Group A – has sent a strong message about its attacking prowess. The Central Asian team recently concluded a friendly match in the UAE with a convincing victory, demonstrating their high level of readiness before the official tournament.
Last-minute plan changes and decisions from the Federation.
According to the original plan, the Kyrgyzstan U23 team was scheduled to have a rematch with the China U23 team in the UAE. This was expected to be a quality test for coach Valeri Berezovskii to assess his squad, especially after the narrow 0-1 defeat against the same opponent in their first encounter. However, an unexpected scenario occurred when the Kyrgyzstan Football Federation (KFU) officially announced the cancellation of the match.
The reason given was an agreement between the two sides to ensure fair competition and prioritize professional development and match practice during the crucial period leading up to the tournament. To avoid disrupting training, the Kyrgyzstan coaching staff quickly arranged a replacement match with the Arabian Falcons, a team currently playing in the UAE.
Overwhelming power and a 6-0 victory.
Despite facing only a local club, Kyrgyzstan U23's victory was impressive due to its convincing nature. Coach Valeri Berezovskii's team completely dominated the game from the very first minutes. The young Kyrgyzstan players displayed mobility in their play, constantly executing high-pressure pressing that left the opposing defense bewildered.
Notably, the Arabian Falcons featured Jonjo Shelvey, a former renowned Liverpool midfielder. However, the veteran's experience was insufficient to help his team withstand the youth and ambition of the Kyrgyzstan U23 players. The match ended with a 6-0 victory for the Central Asian representatives, a result that accurately reflected the disparity in skill and the impressive finishing efficiency of the red-shirted strikers.
With this performance, the Kyrgyzstan U23 team has affirmed its position as a strong contender for a place in the next round in Group A. Following an impressive qualifying campaign and a series of solid friendly matches, coach Berezovskii now possesses a cohesive team before traveling to Saudi Arabia to begin their continental campaign.
Vietnam U23 and a crucial test against Syria U23.
While their rivals in Group A are thriving, the Vietnam U23 team is also finalizing its preparations in Qatar. After a week of acclimatizing to the climate and pitch conditions, coach Kim Sang Sik's team will play their only friendly match against Syria U23 tonight.
This is considered a crucial dress rehearsal for the South Korean strategist. The Syrian U23 team, with their physique and playing style typical of West Asia, will be a quality opponent, helping the Vietnamese U23 team learn necessary lessons to face other opponents in the group such as Kyrgyzstan or Jordan in the future.
The friendly match between Vietnam U23 and Syria U23 is scheduled to take place at 7:00 PM (Vietnam time) tonight. The result of this match will provide the most realistic insight into the form of the young Vietnamese players before they embark on their journey to conquer the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Championship finals, which will take place in just over a week.