Vietnam U23 vs Uzbekistan U23: On the verge of paradise

The achievements of Coach Park Hang Seo and his team at the 2018 AFC U23 Championship so far have far exceeded the expectations of experts and fans in Vietnam. What Quang Hai and his teammates have accomplished in China is truly a miracle, not only for Vietnamese football but also for the entire Southeast Asian region.

Having successively defeated U23 Australia, then U23 Iraq, and most recently U23 Qatar, Coach Park Hang Seo and his players are earning everyone's admiration for their strength and courageous spirit. Their journey to the "throne" now has only one obstacle remaining: U23 Uzbekistan. Based on their performance so far, the championship is not an unattainable dream for Coach Park Hang Seo and his team.

After defeating Qatar U23 in a penalty shootout, Vietnam U23 proudly advanced to the final. Photo: Internet

In every aspect, the Vietnam U23 team is somewhat inferior to their Central Asian opponents. Besides superior physique and fitness, the Uzbekistan U23 team also has a higher quality of players than Vietnam. According to Transfermarkt, the Uzbekistan U23 squad is valued at 6.03 million euros, 80.4 times more expensive than the Vietnam U23 squad (75,000 euros). Their victories against China U23 (1-0), Japan U23 (4-0), and South Korea U23 (4-1) speak volumes about the strength of the Uzbekistan U23 team.

Furthermore, in their most recent encounter with Vietnam U23, the Central Asian team also secured a 2-1 victory at the MI-150 Cup 2017 held in Thailand last month. Clearly, before this match, Coach Park Hang Seo's team could not be considered as strong as their opponent, at least in theory.

However, in football, statistics are only for reference and do not guarantee victory for the favored team. The U23 Vietnam – U23 Uzbekistan final is no exception. If they continue to play excellently, calmly, and with the same courageous spirit as in the previous matches, Quang Hai's chances of lifting the championship trophy are not insignificant. The door to paradise is just one step away for Coach Park Hang Seo's team.

Uzbekistan U23 demonstrated formidable strength with a 4-1 victory over South Korea U23. Photo: Internet

On the other side of the battlefield, the Uzbekistan U23 team is in a similar situation. Since separating from the Soviet Union, Uzbek football has only won one championship, the gold medal at the 1994 Asian Games.

Over the past two decades, Uzbekistan's football teams have had numerous opportunities to create miracles (for example, reaching the 2014 World Cup play-offs in the Asian region), but have always suffered heartbreaking defeats. Therefore, the final match against Vietnam U23 is an opportunity for Uzbekistan's football to end its days of disappointment.

Therefore, both the Vietnam U23 and Uzbekistan U23 teams are standing at the gates of heaven. Whichever team wins will have the honor of achieving ultimate glory.