U22 Vietnam 1 - 0 U22 China: Initial victory
U22 Vietnam opened the Panda Cup 2025 at Shuangliu Sports Centre, Chengdu. Host U22 China rejuvenated with 16/30 U20 players, while Vietnam brought an experienced force; Quoc Viet started.
Match progress
Acting head coach Dinh Hong Vinh launched a lineup including goalkeeper Cao Van Binh, the central defender trio Ly Duc - Hieu Minh - Nhat Minh, a five-man midfield with Van Khang, Xuan Bac, Van Truong, Anh Quan, and three strikers Quoc Viet, Thanh Nhan and Cong Phuong.
Right from the start of the match, U22 Vietnam was under great pressure from the home team. In the 17th minute, goalkeeper Cao Van Binh made an excellent save after a close-range shot by Wang Bo Hao, a player currently playing in the Netherlands for FC Den Bosch.
In the 29th minute, he continued to shine when he successfully blocked a face-to-face situation with striker Behram Abduweli, who used to play for the Chinese national team.
Despite their best efforts, U22 Vietnam had difficulty in attacking and did not create any clear opportunities in the first half, except for Thanh Nhan's shot from a narrow angle in the 44th minute, which was caught by goalkeeper Huo Shen Ping.
Entering the second half, U22 Vietnam made three substitutions to improve the game, but U22 China still controlled the ball better and created many dangerous attacks.
In the 74th minute, striker Bui Vi Hao was brought onto the field after nearly a year of injury treatment, marking his much-awaited return.
And the turning point came in the 81st minute, when Ngoc My skillfully dribbled the ball down the left wing and crossed, causing the opposing defender to miss the clearance, creating an opportunity for Minh Phuc to finish close to the goal, opening the score 1-0 for U22 Vietnam.
In the final minutes, U22 Vietnam still maintained a solid position in the game. In the 84th minute, Bui Vi Hao was fouled in the penalty area but the referee did not award a penalty, causing the Vietnamese players to react strongly.
The match was given 5 minutes of extra time, but the home team could not penetrate the resilient defense of U22 Vietnam.
In the end, coach Dinh Hong Vinh and his team won 1-0, making a favorable start at the Panda Cup 2025 and bringing many positive signals for the journey towards the upcoming SEA Games.
Match schedule and venue
| Time | 18:35 November 12, 2025 |
|---|---|
| Location | Shuangliu Sports Centre, Chengdu, China |
| Tournament | Panda Cup 2025 Friendly |
Background: experience of confrontation and difference in forces
Vietnam U22s have often had good results when facing Chinese teams at youth level. In the most recent encounter in March, Vietnam U22s opened the scoring and played convincingly, before the match ended in a draw.
This time, China U22 does not have the strongest force due to injuries and is in the process of rejuvenation, with 16/30 players promoted from the U20 team. According to the long-term orientation towards the 2028 Olympics, the 2005 generation of players are given many opportunities in the international friendlies.
On the contrary, U22 Vietnam set a closer goal of SEA Games 33 in December, so they brought to China the best faces - the core players who won the U23 Southeast Asia Championship 2025 and qualified for the U23 Asia Championship 2026. Many players have experience in the national team and regularly play in the V-League, creating an advantage in terms of playing consistency and understanding.
National Vietnam lineup and highlights
According to pre-match information, Quoc Viet will be the starting player for U22 Vietnam. The list of 11 players expected to play for both teams is as follows:
| U22 Vietnam (expected) | China U22 (expected) |
|---|---|
| Trung Kien Ly Duc Hieu Minh Nhat Minh Xuan Bac Thai Son Van Khang Cong Phuong Ngoc My Thanh Nhan Quoc Viet | Li Hao Peng Xiao Liu Haofan Alex Yang Bao Shinmieng Xu Bin Yang Haoyu Kuai Jiwen Chan Zheshi Wang Bohao Behram Abduweli |
Quoc Viet's presence gives U22 Vietnam a familiar striker, who has played with many teammates through youth tournaments and in the V-League—a fulcrum for speedy combinations and off-the-ball movement. On the other side of the field, the home team has a group of players who are gaining experience at the U20 level, promising to bring energy and speed.
Notable tactical points
The advantage of U22 Vietnam lies in its stable personnel structure: many players have fought together through the 2025 Southeast Asia U23 and the 2026 Asia U23 qualifiers, thereby forming a good understanding in team formation and transition.
With U22 China, the rejuvenation process can create a breakthrough in the pace of the competition. However, the lack of international experience of some U20 faces will be a test when facing the experienced Vietnamese team.
The opening match often determines the psychological trajectory of the entire tournament. A solid start in terms of game position and discipline will help U22 Vietnam aim for the set goal.
Statistics and head-to-head context
- Most recently (March), U22 Vietnam opened the score and played better, the match ended in a draw.
- China U22 is missing some key players due to injury, while also adding U20 players (16/30 players) for the 2028 Olympic orientation.
- Vietnam U22 aims to reach the 33rd SEA Games in December, bringing with them the core team that won the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship and qualified for the 2026 Asian U23 Championship.
Impact and expectations
If they maintain the same pace and organization as in recent tournaments, U22 Vietnam has a basis to aim for an opening victory at the Panda Cup 2025. The difference in experience and cohesion is a clear advantage, while the home team has great motivation from its young players. The match is awaited by the contrast in development philosophies: one side aims for short-term goals (SEA Games 33), the other side lays the foundation for a more distant destination (Olympics 2028).
