U22 Uzbekistan beat U22 Vietnam 1-0, considered a stepping stone

Just four minutes after the opening whistle, Khamidov Saidkhon punished the mistake and put an end to the efforts of U22 Vietnam. The 1-0 victory at the Panda Cup 2025 not only helped coach Ravshan Khaydarov's team get back on track after the opening loss to U22 Korea, but was also described by the Uzbek media as "convincing" and "superior".

Key developments: 4th-minute goal and crossbar moment

The match was decided early. In the 4th minute, Khamidov Saidkhon scored the opening goal and also the only goal. From there, U22 Uzbekistan proactively set the tempo, minimizing risky situations in front of the goal.

Coach Dinh Hong Vinh's U22 Vietnam pushed up the formation in the second half, persistently looking for opportunities from wing combinations and high balls. The most regrettable moment came in the extra minutes, when Ngoc My's header hit the crossbar, missing a late equalizer.

The result made the group stage tense: all four teams had three points before the final round, meaning all possibilities were open.

Uzbekistan media: convincing, superior, spiritual boost

A synthesis of the Uzbek press shows a high consensus on the importance of victory. Zamin newspaper went further with the assessment that U22 Uzbekistan showed “superior level” compared to U22 Vietnam: controlling the game from the start, scoring early and maintaining the initiative throughout the match. The article also emphasized the stability of the defense and the depth of the squad, when the substitute players still played their roles well.

Sports and Stadion sites considered this a necessary mental boost and a “good practice match” for the upcoming U23 Asian Cup, while admitting that the match was “relatively difficult”. The common point in the assessments was the psychological value: after the stumble in the opening match, this victory brought the team back on track in preparation.

Tactical angle: early control, stable defensive structure

The goal in the 4th minute changed the entire tactical landscape. With the lead, U22 Uzbekistan could control the tempo as they pleased: when needed, they slowed down to pull the opponent out of the structure; when there was space, they accelerated to exploit behind the defense.

The message from the country’s media was clear: “complete control of the game” and “a solid defense.” This reflected two layers of operation: a well-spaced block of players to cover the midfield, and selective pressing decisions to avoid losing balance after the lead. The fact that the substitutes came on and maintained their quality showed that the structure was standardized, not dependent on a single individual.

On the other hand, U22 Vietnam's efforts focused on the second half of the match with the ball entering the penalty area. The situation of hitting the crossbar in the extra time showed that they were very close to scoring, but the safety margin that U22 Uzbekistan established early on was the difference in the match.

Voices from Uzbekistan audiences

On social media, many fans expressed their pride when the lineup was emphasized as the U20 team against the collective of many 22-year-old players of U22 Vietnam. A typical comment: "Uzbek U20 players fought tenaciously against the opponent with many 22-year-old players. They will be the key factor to help Uzbekistan football win a ticket to the 2028 Olympics."

Impact: preparation pace and table situation

With a 1-0 victory, U22 Uzbekistan received the most valuable thing in a friendly tournament before a major tournament: confidence. In the context of the upcoming AFC U23 Championship, what the press of this country emphasized — persuasiveness, initiative, stable defensive structure and personnel depth — are all important pillars for the finishing stage.

At the tournament level, the fact that all four teams have 3 points before the final round puts everyone in an early “final” position. A moment like Ngoc My’s header hitting the crossbar or a situation that takes advantage of a mistake like Khamidov Saidkhon’s goal in the 4th minute is enough to separate the line between three points and a draw. Concentration in key moments will continue to decide the outcome of the Panda Cup 2025.