Why Did China U23 Win So Convincingly? Vietnamese Media Admit: Every Assumption Was Wrong, Antonio Broke All Conventions

In the semifinals of the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup, China U23 delivered a stunning 3–0 victory over Vietnam. The result shocked Vietnamese football circles, prompting local media to conduct an in-depth post-match analysis of the heavy defeat.

Vietnamese journalist Thanh Hai titled his report “Why Vietnam U23 Lost So Badly”, stating: “We believed we were fully prepared, but no one expected Antonio to adopt such a bold and unconventional approach.” Instead of China’s usual conservative style — deep defending and surrendering possession — Antonio instructed his players to attack proactively, dominate possession, and control the rhythm of the match.

To support this shift, China made six changes to the starting lineup. Familiar attacking names Wang Yudong and Baha Lam were left on the bench, while Xiang Yuwang and Kuai Jiwen started instead. Though less physical, the pair offered superior technical ability, intelligent movement, and quick passing, enhancing China’s attacking fluidity.

This unexpected setup caught Vietnam completely off guard. Confusion deepened when they realized this was not China’s contingency plan, but rather their primary strategy throughout the match. “All of our assumptions about a conservative, attack-limited Chinese team were wrong,” Thanh Hai wrote. China consistently pushed the ball into Vietnam’s half, pressed aggressively, reclaimed possession, and launched rapid counterattacks.

As a result, Kim Sang-sik’s side struggled to control the tempo or even move the ball out of their own half. Just as Vietnam attempted to regain initiative, misfortune struck: Nguyen Xiao Ming suffered a serious injury. That incident, combined with two early second-half goals conceded, shattered the team’s confidence.

The game soon spiraled out of control. Players lost composure, technical execution deteriorated, and mistakes multiplied. “Had it not been for goalkeeper Tran Trung Kien’s repeated saves, the scoreline would have been far worse than 0–3,” Thanh Hai noted.

Vietnamese football expert Phan Anh Tu identified four decisive factors behind the collapse. First was the psychological burden, which caused players’ movements and decision-making to deteriorate under pressure. Second was the constant adjustment of the starting lineup, with Nguyen Cong Phuong starting and Nguyen Le Phat dropping deeper to orchestrate play, reducing Vietnam’s attacking threat.

The third factor was Nguyen Xiao Ming’s injury in the 33rd minute, a major blow to the team. The subsequent red card shown to Pham Ly Duc further weakened a defense that had been the backbone of Kim Sang-sik’s tactics. Finally, China’s superior physical conditioning proved decisive, as their relentless pressing and high-intensity running disrupted Vietnam’s rhythm and prevented effective buildup play.