South Korea's U23 goalkeeper apologizes after defeat to Vietnam for incorrectly predicting all 7 penalty kicks.
South Korea's U23 team's failure at the Asian tournament was made even more bitter when goalkeeper Hwang Jae Yun revealed the coaching staff's lack of preparation for the penalty shootout against Vietnam.
Hwang Jae Yun's performance in the penalty shootout against Vietnam U23 on the evening of January 23rd became the focus of criticism from the South Korean public. Following the defeat in the third-place match of the 2026 AFC U23 Championship, the goalkeeper had to apologize to fans on social media, while also revealing serious shortcomings in the team's preparation.
A strange deadlock at the penalty spot.
What surprised experts and fans the most was Hwang Jae Yun's seemingly "mechanical" reflexes. In the first six penalty kicks for Vietnam U23, the goalkeeper consistently dived to the left, while Coach Kim Sang Sik's players repeatedly shot in the opposite direction. In the decisive seventh penalty kick, when Hwang Jae Yun decided to change direction to the right, Nguyen Thanh Nhan calmly slotted the ball into the left corner, securing a 7-6 victory for the Southeast Asian representatives.
Hwang Jae Yun shared in a heartfelt message on Instagram: "During the penalty shootout, I received absolutely no instructions from the management or the coach. It was entirely my fault. I will humbly accept all criticism."
Revealing gaps in training methods.
Hwang Jae Yun's revelation about the lack of guidance from the technical area fueled outrage directed at head coach Lee Min Sung. In modern football, studying the opponent's penalty-taking habits is a mandatory requirement, especially in knockout rounds. The fact that a goalkeeper had to completely fend for himself during all seven penalty kicks demonstrates the superficial preparation of the South Korean coaching staff.
Many South Korean fans expressed their outrage: "The most shocking thing is that the head coach didn't give any instructions. What the hell is Lee Min Sung doing?" Others argued that the goalkeeping coach's lack of technical advice directly led to the disastrous outcome for the South Korean team.
The resilience of the Vietnam U23 team.
In contrast to their opponents' hesitation, the Vietnam U23 team displayed remarkable composure. After Quoc Viet and Dinh Bac scored in the 90 minutes of regulation time, the red-shirted players maintained maximum concentration during the penalty shootout. In particular, goalkeeper Cao Van Binh had an outstanding performance, earning the Man of the Match award and making a significant contribution to helping coach Kim Sang Sik's team achieve a new historical milestone against their formidable opponent.
This victory not only brought home a valuable bronze medal but also affirmed the progress in terms of psychology and tactics of Vietnamese youth football on the continental stage. Overall, the contrast in preparation and tactical execution was the key factor determining the outcome of this dramatic match.
