In the final match against hosts China, Vietnam deployed their familiar counter-attacking strategy. The first half saw an impressive performance from the young Vietnamese players, making it difficult for their hosts to execute attacking plans. Coach Dinh Hong Vinh’s squad even created more dangerous opportunities and took the lead in the 34th minute thanks to a well-placed finish by Quoc Viet.

In the second half, China increased their attacking pressure in search of an equalizer. Vietnam’s defence line remained solid, successfully fending off several dangerous attacks. However, the turning point came in the 69th minute when HOng Phuc miscontrolled the ball and committed a foul inside the penalty area. The referee immediately awarded a penalty to the hosts, and Effelding made no mistake from the spot, beating goalkeeper Cao Van Binh to secure a 1-1 draw.

With this result, Vietnam finished third overall, missing out on the championship title. Nevertheless, holding the host team to a draw, along with their impressive performances in previous matches, is an encouraging sign for Vietnam as they prepare for upcoming major tournaments.

After the match, coach Dinh Hong Vinh expressed his regret, saying Vietnam had a strong performance against China. “We took the initiative in our play, maintained a solid defensive structure, and executed transitions effectively. The players adhered to the tactical plan, kept good team spacing, and created multiple dangerous opportunities. Overall, we deserved a better result. However, what matters most is that the players have shown progress and gained valuable lessons from this match."

Despite finishing third in the tournament with three points after three draws, Vietnam delivered a commendable performance. Notably, against stronger opponents such as Uzbekistan and the Republic of Korea, the young Vietnamese players remained confident, posing significant challenges for their rivals.

“This tour was a valuable experience for Vietnam U22. It allowed us to test our squad, evaluate player capabilities, and refine our tactics in real match conditions. The players have shown steady improvement with each game, especially today, where they demonstrated confidence and good game control. This will serve as an important foundation for the team to continue growing and aiming for bigger goals ahead," said the coach.

Vietnam hold Uzbekistan to a 0-0 draw in CFA China Team 2025

VOV.VN - U22 Vietnam held U22 Uzbekistan to a 0-0 draw in their second match of the ongoing friendly tournament CFA China Team 2025 on March 23.