Vietnam U22 1-0 China U22, Hu Hetao admits he ran out of steam.

Vietnam U22 opened their Panda Cup 2025 campaign with a 1-0 victory over China U22 on the evening of November 12th, in a match decided in the final minutes as the home team clearly ran out of steam. The decisive moment came from Pham Minh Phuc, who, from a scramble in the penalty area, finished from close range to secure three points for coach Dinh Hong Vinh's team.

The decisive moment and a tight game.

Playing away from home, the Vietnam U22 team started confidently, prioritizing tight defense and discipline. The visiting team patiently waited for their opportunity, and when the China U22 team made a mistake in the penalty area at the end of the second half, Pham Minh Phuc was in the right place at the right time to push the ball across the goal line, ending a tactical match with a narrow victory.

Tactical and physical fitness perspectives

The match was shaped by two factors: the organization of the Vietnam U22 team and the decline in physical fitness of the China U22 team towards the end. The visiting team maintained a tight defensive formation, capitalizing on their opponent's mistakes instead of taking risky, attacking runs. Meanwhile, the home team created several opportunities but failed to convert them into goals and began to tire in the final 20 minutes, at which point the balance of physical strength shifted heavily in favor of the Vietnam U22 team.

Personnel also made a difference. According to the Chinese U22 team, the Vietnamese U22 team made seven substitutions while the home team only had seven reserve players. Better rotation allowed the visitors to maintain intensity and pace, thereby forcing their opponents into making mistakes.

Statement by Hu Hetao

After the match, player Hu Hetao admitted to systemic shortcomings:"The whole team has only been training together for four or five days, but that can't be an excuse. We all want to fight to the end, even if our physical condition isn't great. The goal conceded wasn't anyone's fault, but the responsibility of the whole team."

He added more about the difference at the end of the match:"The Vietnam U22 team made seven substitutions, while we only had seven reserve players. This led to a clear difference in performance towards the end of the match."Despite the defeat, Hu Hetao affirmed that the entire team would bounce back, maintain unity, and improve their ability to capitalize on opportunities in the next match.

Key developments

• Early in the match: Vietnam U22 maintained a solid defensive structure, limiting space in front of the penalty area.
• Mid-match: China U22 created a few dangerous chances but lacked sharpness in their finishing.
• Late second half: A chaotic scramble in the home team's penalty area allowed Pham Minh Phuc to quickly score, securing a 1-0 victory.

Impact on the tournament's outcome

Vietnam's U22 victory was surprising considering the difference in personnel between the two teams, but it accurately reflected the match scenario: focus, discipline, and explosive performances at the right moment. For China's U22 team, the issues of physical fitness and squad depth need to be addressed immediately if they want to get back into the race. The internal message emphasized by Hu Hetao was unity and better utilization of opportunities.

Selective statistics

• Score: 1-0 for Vietnam U22.
• Time of goal: late in the second half.
• China U22's stamina dropped: around the last 20 minutes of the match (according to Hu Hetao).
• Vietnam U22 made seven substitutions; China U22 only had seven reserve players (according to Hu Hetao).
• The Chinese U22 team trained together for 4-5 days before the tournament (according to Hu Hetao).