Vietnam continue search for maiden U23 win against South Korea

The team's only draw against South Korea was in a friendly played May 9, 2015 at the My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi. No goals were scored.

Since then, Vietnam encountered South Korea in three major tournaments and lost all of them. In the 2018 U23 AFC Championship qualifiers at HCMC's Thong Nhat Stadium on July 23, 2017, South Korea won 2-1. Lee Sang-heon opened the score before Nguyen Cong Phuong equalized. At the end of the first half, striker Hwang In-beom scored to secure the 2-1 win, although Vietnam still qualified for the main event along with their opponents.

In the next encounter in the group stage of the main event, Nguyen Quang Hai drew first blood for Vietnam with a superb long-range shot, but Cho Young-wook and Lee Keun-ho countered effectively for their opponents. At that tournament, Vietnam reached the final and lost to Uzbekistan in extra time, while South Korea finished fourth.

The most recent encounter was when Vietnam played U23 South Korea in the semifinals of the 2018 Asian Games in Cibinong, Indonesia. They lost 1-3. Lee Seung-woo's brace and Hwang Ui-jo's goal helped South Korea establish a 3-0 lead before Tran Minh Vuong scored a consolation goal from a freekick. South Korea went on to win the gold medal, while Vietnam finished fourth.

The first-ever encounter between the two teams ended with a 2-0 victory for South Korea at the 2006 Asian Games group stage in Doha, Qatar. Vietnam failed to go beyond the group stage and South Korea finished fourth.

The upcoming game between the two U23 teams will kick off at 8 p.m. (Hanoi time) Sunday. It will be reported live on VnExpress International.