Vietnam U22 team visits pandas before match against South Korea U22.
After losing 0-1 to Uzbekistan, the Vietnam U22 team resumed training on November 16th and visited the Panda Park in Chengdu. Panda Cup: Four teams tied with 3 points; Vietnam will win the championship if they beat South Korea U22 and have a better goal difference than the other two teams.
Two days before the final match of the Panda Cup 2025, the Vietnam U22 team still holds its destiny in its own hands in the championship race. After a 0-1 defeat against Uzbekistan, coach Dinh Hong Vinh's team returned to training on November 16th, and also took the opportunity to "recharge" with a visit to the Panda Park in Chengdu, Sichuan, China — a well-timed break before facing South Korea U22.
Panda Cup 2025 standings: 4 teams tied with 3 points.
China's surprising 2-0 victory over South Korea, with both goals scored by Behram Abduweli, has made the tournament unpredictable. After two rounds, all four teams have 3 points. According to sources, China currently leads with a goal difference of +1; Vietnam and South Korea have a goal difference of 0; and Uzbekistan has a goal difference of -1. This means the championship will likely be decided in the final 90 minutes.
For the Vietnam U22 team, the scenario is clear: if they defeat South Korea U22 and achieve a better margin than the other match between China U22 and Uzbekistan U22, Coach Dinh Hong Vinh's team will be crowned champions of the Panda Cup 2025.
"Recharge your energy" in Chengdu before the big event.
After a narrow 0-1 defeat against Uzbekistan, the Vietnam U22 team had about two days to prepare for the final match. Besides the training session on November 16th, the team spent time visiting the Panda Park – an iconic destination in Chengdu. This is not only one of China's most famous tourist attractions but also a conservation and research facility for the giant panda – a beloved "national treasure".
In youth friendly tournaments like the Panda Cup, the short playing schedule demands a balance between physical recovery and emotional stability. An off-field activity, however brief, can help players relax mentally and recharge before returning to the intensity of tactical play and the pressure of scoring points.
The focus will be on the match against U22 South Korea.
South Korea's U22 team just lost 0-2 to China's U22 team, showing that the situation is completely open and anything can happen in the final match. As previously stated, coach Dinh Hong Vinh outlined areas that Vietnam's U22 team needs to improve before facing the East Asian representative. Given that goal difference could be the deciding factor, every moment of concentration and effectiveness in finishing will be crucial.
The decisive moment at the Panda Cup
The 2025 Panda Cup was held in Chengdu – a city closely associated with the image of pandas – and the unpredictability of the group stage created great interest in the final round of matches. From China's U22 team losing to Vietnam's U22 team and then surprisingly defeating South Korea's U22 team, to all four teams having 3 points after two rounds, the outcome was wide open.
For the Vietnam U22 team, the requirement is simple yet demanding: beat South Korea U22 and wait for the goal difference. After a day of "recharging" their energy at Panda Park and a training session on November 16th, the young team enters the decisive match not only with the hope of winning the title, but also with the opportunity to prove their mettle against a continental-level opponent.
