Vietnam U23 holds a significant advantage as Kyrgyzstan U23's playmaker is suspended.
The absence of midfielder Arsen Sharshenbekov due to a direct red card created a void in the Kyrgyzstan U23 midfield, opening up opportunities for coach Kim Sang Sik's team to earn points.
The Kyrgyzstan U23 team is facing a difficult personnel issue ahead of their crucial match against Vietnam U23 on January 9th. The Central Asian team has confirmed they will be without key midfielder Arsen Sharshenbekov due to suspension. This is considered a significant blow to Kyrgyzstan U23's ambitions to advance from Group A of the 2026 AFC U23 Championship.
The red card: a turning point thanks to VAR technology.
The reason for his absence stems from the direct red card the number 10 player received in the opening match against host nation Saudi Arabia U23. In the 34th minute, after carefully reviewing VAR technology, the referee determined that Sharshenbekov had stepped on an opponent's foot and decided to send him off immediately.
Playing with ten men for most of the match was the main reason for Kyrgyzstan U23's 0-1 defeat against the West Asian team. This result puts them at a significant disadvantage in the standings and they must achieve a good result against Vietnam if they want to maintain their chances of advancing.
The irreplaceable role of the number 10 conductor.
Experts consider Sharshenbekov to be the most important element in the tactical scheme of the Kyrgyzstan U23 team. He not only plays a defensive role and controls the tempo of the game, but also frequently creates breakthroughs in attacking situations.
In the qualifying round, it was Sharshenbekov who scored the crucial equalizer, making the score 2-2 against Uzbekistan U23. That historic goal directly helped the Central Asian team qualify for the continental finals for the first time. His absence forced the opposing team's coach to completely restructure their midfield system.
An opportunity for coach Kim Sang Sik's tactical planning.
The difficult situation faced by their opponents inadvertently created a clear tactical advantage for the Vietnam U23 team. Losing their most reliable defensive anchor in the center circle would weaken Kyrgyzstan's defensive system from afar. This provided an opportunity for Vietnam's creative midfielders to exploit the gaps and launch attacks.
A victory against an opponent with depleted squads would significantly increase coach Kim Sang Sik's team's chances of advancing from the group stage. Currently, the U23 Vietnam coaching staff is undoubtedly carefully studying strategies to neutralize the opponent's remaining key players in order to translate this numerical advantage into a full three points.
