U22 Vietnam lost 0-1 to U22 Korea, Kim Myung-jun scored

U22 Vietnam ended the CFA Team China – Panda Cup 2025 with a 0-1 defeat against U22 Korea. Kim Myung-jun scored the only goal in the 33rd minute, but U22 Vietnam’s efforts after the break were not enough to change the outcome. The sad highlight at the end of the match was an injury that forced Nguyen Van Truong to leave the field in the 80th minute.

The decisive moment

The game turned around after about the first 5 minutes, U22 Vietnam held the ball confidently but did not create enough pressure. When U22 Korea adjusted the tempo and pushed up the formation, their attacks were intense: in the 14th minute was the first shot (inaccurate), in the 17th minute the U22 Vietnam net shook but the goal was denied due to a mistake before the shot.

The pressure continued to increase with two phases ending in the 23rd and 28th minutes, forcing the red shirt defenders to retreat and defend in a low block. In the 33rd minute, Kim Myung-jun – a striker playing in Europe – finished decisively, opening the score 1-0. It was a situation that showed the difference in processing speed and quality of decision-making in the penalty area.

In the remaining minutes of the first half, U22 Vietnam pushed up their formation to find an equalizer but could not penetrate the opponent's disciplined defense.

Second half: control and discipline

After the break, coach Dinh Hong Vinh changed his squad to increase firepower. However, the physical advantage and modernity in the way U22 Korea operated helped them maintain the initiative. In the 50th minute, Kim Myung-jun fired a dangerous shot that forced goalkeeper Tran Trung Kien to fly to block – a rare dangerous shot in the second half.

From there, U22 Korea proactively slowed down the tempo, controlled the space and the ball. Their ability to organize in the midfield often broke the coordination of U22 Vietnam right from the midfield area. In the 73rd minute, Kim Myung-jun was taken off after completing his goal-scoring task.

In the 80th minute, U22 Vietnam suffered a loss when Nguyen Van Truong was injured after a collision and had to leave the field on a stretcher. This is a situation that makes fans worried, because Van Truong is an important factor heading towards the SEA Games at the end of the year.

Tactical perspective

U22 Korea won thanks to the advantage in tempo and space: they forced their opponents to play at their own pace, while tightening the midfield to eliminate U22 Vietnam's passing lanes. Once they had the advantage, the East Asian representative switched to a reasonable state of managing the match, limiting risks instead of pushing up the number of players.

For U22 Vietnam, the main problem is the access to the final third of the field. Holding the ball in the early stages is not enough to open up opportunities, and when drawn into the physical race - collision, the red shirt team lacks the breakthrough handling to break the opponent's defensive structure.

Numbers, moments

• 33': Kim Myung-jun scored the decisive goal, U22 Korea led 1-0.
• 50': Trung Kien blocked Kim Myung-jun's dangerous shot.
• 17': U22 Korea's goal was disallowed due to a mistake before finishing.
• 80': Nguyen Van Truong left the field on a stretcher due to injury.

Impact

The 0-1 result ended the journey of both teams at the Panda Cup 2025. For U22 Vietnam, not scoring and losing players at the end of the match posed a problem for the upcoming training sessions, especially the condition of Nguyen Van Truong before the SEA Games. U22 Korea showed their bravery and discipline in controlling the match when they took the lead.

Final score:U22 Vietnam 0-1 U22 Korea
Score:Kim Myung-jun 33'