Vietnam U20 suffer 3-0 loss to North Korea in AFC U20 Asian Cup qualifier

The loss places the country in a challenging position in their journey to secure a place in the final tournament.

Both teams set a fast pace immediately after the opening whistle. North Korea actively pressed high, capitalizing on their superior physicality, speed, and strong tackling abilities. Vietnam struggled to build up play from the back but still managed to create a few notable opportunities.

In the 21st minute, goalkeeper Xuan Tin produced back-to-back saves to deny dangerous attempts from Ri Kang Rim and Kim Hyon Jun. In the 34th minute, Le Phat had a heading opportunity inside the penalty area but missed the target, sending both sides into halftime scoreless.

North Korea accelerated at the start of the second half and quickly broke the deadlock. In the 46th minute, Kim Yu Jin exploited space in the Vietnamese defense to beat Xuan Tin with a decisive finish, opening the scoring.

Conceding early put further pressure on the home side. In the 50th minute, Ri Hyok Gwang pounced on a spilled save by Xuan Tin after Pak Kwang Song broke into the box, doubling North Korea's lead.

Head coach Yutaka Ikeuchi promptly made tactical adjustments and instructed his players to push higher up the pitch. However, Vietnam failed to pull a goal back against a well-organized North Korean defence.

In the 58th minute, Kim Yu Jin sprinted past defender Quang Kiet before firing past Xuan Tin to seal a 3-0 victory. Vietnam pushed forward in the remaining minutes but could not break through the opposition's backline, with Le Phat sending a free-kick over the bar in the 90th minute.

The 3-0 defeat marks Vietnam’s heaviest loss in the AFC U19 and U20 Asian Cup qualifiers since 2004, matching a three-goal margin deficit last recorded in a 1-4 loss to South Korea in 2007.

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