U23 Vietnam face Uzbekistan: A point is enough, but the story does not stop at the scoreline

In the 78th minute against Kuwait, U23 Vietnam's net shook. The bench sank. On the pitch, heads began to drop. But two minutes later, Nguyen Ngoc My produced the equaliser at exactly the right moment. I have followed many sporting events and watched many young teams collapse after a psychological shock. U23 Vietnam did not collapse. They stood up and rewrote their own story. Three stumbles, one flash of speed, a lifetime as a storyteller. Group C of ASIAD 2026 is entering the final matchday with few remaining surprises. U23 Uzbekistan have six points from wins over the Philippines and Kuwait, already securing a quarter-final spot. U23 Vietnam have four points, sit second, and only need a draw against Uzbekistan to guarantee progression. A win would lift coach Dinh Hong Vinh's team to the top of Group C. The match takes place in Nagoya, where Uzbekistan have reasons to rotate their squad in order to save energy for the knockout stage. In the match against Kuwait, Uzbekistan played with ten men for most of the second half and still held firm. They possess physical power, speed, duelling strength and the ability to move the ball quickly. The way they put pressure on the flanks, deliver crosses and combine at pace could cause real problems for U23 Vietnam's midfield. If Uzbekistan are allowed to control the centre of the pitch, the red-shirted team will face huge pressure. But Uzbekistan no longer have a specific target in terms of points, so the chance of them playing with a rotated lineup is high. This is both an opportunity and a trap. U23 Vietnam, on the other hand, have shown they can control the ball, organise attacks and create chances. The biggest problem remains finishing. Against Kuwait, they created many dangerous openings but could not end the match early, then conceded from a chaotic set-piece moment. Against the Philippines, they only resolved the game in the closing stages. Knockout matches are often decided by a single moment. If the attack continues to waste chances, U23 Vietnam could pay with their own ticket to the next round. Therefore, the match against Uzbekistan should not become an open duel. Keeping the team compact is the key. A cautious approach, closing spaces and waiting for counter-attacking moments will suit the goal of earning at least one point. Coach Dinh Hong Vinh needs to make sure the midfield is not pushed too deep, while maintaining a sensible distance so fast players like Thanh Nhan and Le Phat can operate when the team transitions. The script is the map, but emotion is the real teleport. I also want to offer a counter-intuitive view. Many people believe Uzbekistan are no longer motivated, so U23 Vietnam just need to play safely. In reality, a team free from points pressure often becomes more open and harder to predict. They can experiment with personnel, play without inhibition, and every substitute has a reason to prove himself. If U23 Vietnam drop too deep and refuse to keep the ball, they will hand Uzbekistan exactly what they need: space and time. Defending does not mean abandoning attacking intent. In the summer of 2026, when stadiums were closed and football became matches watched from living rooms, I saw young players find light in the darkness. They had no trophies and no fans, but they had a summer to learn how to stand up again. An empty summer turned out to be the trophy that lit up the whole year. For U23 Vietnam right now, a draw against Uzbekistan may not be a trophy, but it can light up the long journey ahead. Coach Dinh Hong Vinh must send a clear message to his players: one point is enough, but confidence is what cannot be missing. Small mistakes in the group stage can be fixed by a late goal, but in the knockout stage, there is not always a second minute 80. U23 Vietnam need to defend with a cool head, attack with sharpness, and above all, believe in themselves. The match in Nagoya will not define an entire generation, but it will show whether that generation is ready for big pressure. U23 Vietnam do not need a win to advance, but they may need a proper performance to enter the knockout round with full belief. I am 48 now, and age cannot stop the ping, but I still believe in those moments when a young team dares to cross its own limits.