U22 Vietnam 1-0 U22 China, temporarily second in Panda Cup 2025
U22 Vietnam beat U22 China 1-0 thanks to a goal by Pham Minh Phuc. U22 Korea defeated Uzbekistan 2-0, Vietnam temporarily ranked second in the group and will meet Uzbekistan in the next round.
U22 Vietnam opened the Panda Cup 2025 with a 1-0 victory over host U22 China. Pham Minh Phuc scored the only goal. In the early match, U22 Korea beat U22 Uzbekistan 2-0. With these results, after the opening round, U22 Korea and U22 Vietnam both have 3 points; U22 Korea has a better goal difference. In the next round, U22 Vietnam will meet U22 Uzbekistan; U22 China will face U22 Korea.
Panda Cup 2025 standings after opening round
The provisional table is calculated based on the results stated in the article (3 points for a win, goal difference):
| Team | Battle | Win | Peace | Lose | Goal | Conceded goal | Difference | Point |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U22 Korea | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 3 |
| U22 Vietnam | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 3 |
| China U22 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
| U22 Uzbekistan | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
Developments and impact after the opening match
The narrow victory over the host team helped U22 Vietnam get off to a good start in the four-team tournament organized by the Chinese Football Association. Pham Minh Phuc's goal brought home all 3 points, creating a clear competitive position for the team in the championship race.
On the other hand, the 0-1 defeat put U22 China at a disadvantage when they next face U22 Korea - the team that just beat U22 Uzbekistan 2-0. With a better goal difference (+2), U22 Korea is in the temporary leading position, while U22 Vietnam is right behind with a goal difference of +1.
Background and goals of U22 Vietnam
The friendly tournament in China is an important test of the team's strength towards the 33rd SEA Games and the 2026 AFC U23 Championship. The diverse quality of opponents gives the team the opportunity to evaluate its ability to adapt to different styles: U22 Uzbekistan is the reigning U22 Asian champion; U22 Korea possesses many notable young talents; and U22 China stands out in terms of physique and fitness.
With 3 opening points, U22 Vietnam has the opportunity to create momentum when entering the second round. According to the assessment from the tournament content, another good result will help U22 Vietnam become a real candidate for the championship of Panda Cup 2025.
Panda Cup 2025 next round schedule
- U22 Vietnam vs U22 Uzbekistan
- China U22 vs Korea U22
