U22 Vietnam 1-0 U22 China, Hu Hetao admits to running out of breath
The 2025 Panda Cup kicked off with a 1-0 win for U22 Vietnam on the Chinese U22 field thanks to Pham Minh Phuc's late second-half goal. Hu Hetao admitted his physical strength had declined and his squad lacked depth in the final 20 minutes.
Vietnam U22 opened the Panda Cup 2025 with a 1-0 victory on the field of China U22 on the evening of November 12, in a match that was decided in the final minutes when the home team clearly ran out of breath. The decisive moment belonged to Pham Minh Phuc from a messy ball in the penalty area, finishing close to the goal to bring home 3 points for coach Dinh Hong Vinh and his team.
Decisive moment and tight game
Away from home, U22 Vietnam entered the game confidently, prioritizing tightness and discipline. The visitors patiently waited for their opportunity, and when U22 China made a mistake in the 16m50 area at the end of the second half, Pham Minh Phuc was there at the right time to push the ball over the line, ending a game full of calculations with a minimal victory.
| Quick information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Result | U22 China 0-1 U22 Vietnam |
| Tournament | Panda Cup 2025 |
| Time | Evening of November 12 |
| Goal | Pham Minh Phuc (end of second half) |
| Location | China U22 home ground |
Tactical and physical perspective
The game was shaped by two factors: the organization of U22 Vietnam and the decline in physical strength of U22 China in the final stage. The away team kept a tight game, taking advantage of the opponent's mistakes instead of taking risks. Meanwhile, the home team created a number of opportunities but failed to convert them into goals and started to run out of steam in the last 20 minutes, when the physical balance was tilted towards U22 Vietnam.
Personnel also made a difference. According to the Chinese U22 side, Vietnam U22 made seven substitutions while the home team only had seven substitutes. Better rotation helped the away team maintain intensity and speed, thereby forcing the opponent to make mistakes.
Hu Hetao's speech
After the match, player Hu Hetao admitted systemic limitations:“The team has only been training together for four or five days, but that cannot be an excuse. We all wanted to fight to the end, even though we were not in good physical condition. The loss was not the fault of any individual, but the responsibility of the whole team.”
He added about the late game difference:“U22 Vietnam made seven substitutions, while we only had seven substitutes. This led to a clear difference at the end of the match.”Despite the defeat, Hu Hetao affirmed that the whole team will stand up, maintain unity and improve their ability to take advantage of opportunities in the next round.
Key developments
- Early game: U22 Vietnam maintained a solid structure, limiting the space in front of the penalty area.
- Mid-match: U22 China created some dangerous plays but lacked sharpness in finishing.
- End of the second half: A messy ball in the home team's penalty area, Pham Minh Phuc quickly scored to bring home a 1-0 victory.
Impact on the situation
The victory of U22 Vietnam was a surprise when compared to the quality of personnel between the two teams, but it reflected the correct playing scenario: focus, discipline and explosion at the right time. For U22 China, the problem of physical strength and squad depth needs to be solved immediately if they want to return to the race. The internal message that Hu Hetao emphasized was unity and taking better advantage of opportunities.
Selected statistics
- Score: 1-0 for U22 Vietnam.
- Time of goal: end of second half.
- China U22 lost physical strength: about the last 20 minutes of the match (according to Hu Hetao).
- U22 Vietnam had seven substitutions; U22 China only had seven reserve players (according to Hu Hetao).
- Time U22 China trained together before the tournament: 4-5 days (according to Hu Hetao).
