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Analysis of the match between Vietnam U23 and China U23
U23 Vietnam enter the semifinals in high spirits after an impressive victory over strong opponents U23 UAE in the quarterfinals, thereby securing a place among the top four teams at the 2023 AFC U23 Championship. The excitement among head coach Kim Sang Sik’s players is entirely understandable, as it has taken eight years since the historic achievement in Changzhou (China) for Vietnam’s youth team to once again reach the semifinals of a continental tournament. Therefore, U23 Vietnam are highly determined to go further and aim for a spot in the final.
On the other hand, U23 China also have reason to celebrate after defeating highly rated U23 Uzbekistan in the quarterfinals to set up a semifinal clash with U23 Vietnam. However, it must be acknowledged that China’s journey to the semifinals carried a strong element of luck. Throughout the match, they created very few truly dangerous attacking situations while being under constant pressure from the Central Asian side.
Nevertheless, the proactive performance of U23 China’s defense and the outstanding display by goalkeeper Li Hao cannot be denied. The shot-stopper repeatedly denied Uzbekistan’s dangerous attempts before becoming the key figure in the penalty shootout, helping his team secure a 4–2 victory. This factor is something head coach Kim Sang Sik and his players must be particularly wary of when facing U23 China in the semifinals.
In the upcoming clash, U23 Vietnam are fully focused on securing a win to reach the AFC U23 Championship final for the second time in history. The entire team have carefully studied U23 China’s playing style, especially their quarterfinal match against U23 Uzbekistan, in order to devise suitable tactical solutions. However, U23 China will certainly not accept defeat, especially as they enter the match eager to assert their status against an opponent from a footballing nation perceived as weaker. As a result, this encounter promises to be intense, fiercely contested, and full of emotion, with both young teams eager to prove their worth.
