Asian U23 Third Place Match: Vietnam U23 aims for a historic defensive record against South Korea
Coach Kim Sang Sik and his team are aiming for a record of three clean sheets at the Asian tournament if they can hold their own against South Korea U23 in the third-place match at 10:00 PM tonight.
The Vietnam U23 team has the opportunity to set an unprecedented defensive record in the history of their participation in continental tournaments if they keep a clean sheet against South Korea U23. The third-place match of the 2026 AFC U23 Championship, taking place at 10:00 PM tonight (January 23rd), is not only a competition for the bronze medal but also a milestone affirming the progress of Vietnamese football.
Efforts to regain morale after the semi-final round.
Following their 0-3 defeat to China U23 in the semi-finals, coach Kim Sang Sik and his team are making every effort to regain their best mental state. Despite missing out on the final, the young players' performances throughout the tournament have been highly praised by experts for their discipline and flexible tactical approach.
The South Korean strategist affirmed that the entire team would give their all against their home country's team. He emphasized that a courageous fighting spirit would be key to helping the Vietnam U23 team overcome any physical disadvantages against the South Korean team.
The challenge from the South Korean U23 attack.
On the other side of the pitch, the South Korean U23 team entered this match after a narrow 0-1 defeat against Japan. Coach Lee Min Sung admitted that his team was having problems with their finishing and needed to regain their balance to control the game more effectively. This was seen as an opportunity for the Vietnamese U23 defense to prove their mettle under immense pressure.
An opportunity to set an unprecedented defensive record.
The most noteworthy aspect of this match is the goal of keeping a clean sheet. To date, the Vietnam U23 team has only conceded 6 goals in 5 matches. This is a significantly more impressive statistic compared to previous tournaments such as 2018 (9 goals conceded) or 2016 (8 goals conceded).
If Vietnam U23 can hold their own against the South Korean U23 strikers tonight, they will have their third clean sheet of the tournament. This would be the best defensive record in the history of Vietnam's participation in the AFC U23 Asian Championship, surpassing the previous record of two clean sheets.
A favorable result against South Korea U23 not only secured third place for the home team but also clearly demonstrated the improved defensive thinking under coach Kim Sang Sik, laying a solid foundation for the future goals of domestic football.
