The Vietnamese side, coached by Kim Sang-sik, started confidently and controlled possession in the early stages, building play from the back. Syria, however, opted for a compact and physical approach, absorbing pressure and looking to counter-attack. The first half was evenly contested, with few clear-cut chances.

The deadlock was broken in the 40th minute when Mahmoud Mohanna capitalised on space in Vietnam’s defence to score for Syria. The visitors went into the break with a 1-0 lead.

Vietnam missed a close-range opportunity early in the second half, before Syria doubled their advantage in the 57th minute through substitute Osman following a quick passing move. Coach Kim then made extensive changes, replacing 10 players to assess squad depth.

Vietnam pulled one back late on, with Nguyen Le Phat scoring in the 88th minute, but there was not enough time to complete a comeback.

Despite the defeat, the match provided valuable insights for the coaching staff ahead of final squad selection.

Vietnam will open their AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 campaign against Jordan at 18:30 local time (1130 GMT) on January 6 at King Abdullah Sports City Hall in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Vietnam U23 to open 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup finals

VOV.VN - Head coach Kim Sang Sik is stepping up preparations as Vietnam U23 will play the tournament’s opening match at the AFC U23 Asian Cup.