South Korea’s U-23 Team Falls to Vietnam Under Coach Lee Min-sung
In a stunning upset, South Korea’s U-23 national soccer team, under the guidance of coach Lee Min-sung, fell to Vietnam in the third and fourth place match of the 2026 AFC U-23 Asian Cup. This pivotal match took place at King Abdullah Sports City Hall Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, at midnight Korea time on January 24. The defeat marks the first loss for South Korea against Vietnam at the U-23 level.
Match Overview
The contest ended 2-2 after regulation and extra time, leading to a tense penalty shootout. South Korea lost the shootout 6-7, despite having previously secured six wins and three draws against Vietnam at this level. The South Korean team utilized a 4-3-3 formation, featuring players such as Jung Seung-bae and Kim Do-hyun, while Vietnam opted for a 5-4-1 formation with Nguyen Dean Park leading their attack.
Key Match Events
- First Half Highlights:
- South Korea made several attempts to score but struggled against Vietnam’s defense.
- In the 30th minute, Vietnam struck first with a goal from Nguyen Kok Viet following a counterattack.
- A penalty awarded to South Korea in the 34th minute was overturned after VAR review.
- Second Half Developments:
- Substitutions were made at halftime as Lee Min-sung reshaped his lineup.
- Kim Tae-won managed to equalize for South Korea in the 69th minute with a powerful shot.
- Vietnam regained the lead shortly after through a sensational free kick from Nguyen Dean Park.
- Closing Stages:
- With a numerical advantage due to a red card against Vietnam, South Korea managed to equalize again during stoppage time.
- Shin Min-ha scored to tie the game, sending the match into extra time.
Penalty Shootout and Aftermath
During the penalty shootout, both teams converted their first six attempts. The decisive moment came when Bae Hyun-seo missed his chance, allowing Vietnam to secure third place in the tournament thanks to a successful penalty from Nguyen Tan Nan.
This loss is undoubtedly a setback for the South Korean U-23 squad. Coach Lee Min-sung will need to regroup and assess strategies ahead of future tournaments. The match highlighted both the strengths and weaknesses of the team as they move forward in their development.
