Victory over Jordan signals Vietnam's breakthrough from Southeast Asian football: Korean media

Entering their opening match on Tuesday as underdogs, coach Kim Sang-sik's side defied challenges by dominating the first half and capitalizing on set pieces. Goals from Nguyen Dinh Bac and Nguyen Hieu Minh secured the win, while a disciplined defensive effort in the second half successfully neutralized Jordan's pressure.

This result marks Kim's 12th consecutive victory with Vietnam's U22 and U23 teams, a streak that spans the ASEAN U23 Championship, SEA Games 33 and the current U23 Asian Cup.

South Korean media has reacted with enthusiasm to Vietnam's impressive display in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Sports Seoul noted that the unexpected win signals a breakthrough beyond Southeast Asia, suggesting Vietnam now possesses the potential to challenge Asia’s powerhouses.

Nguyen Dinh Bac (number 7) dribbles during Vietnam's 2-0 victory over Jordan in the U23 Asian Cup, at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Jan. 6, 2026. Photo by AFC

Sports Chosun described the Korean coach's impact as "Kim Sang-sik's magic," while SpoTV emphasized that Vietnam's success with three consecutive titles is no coincidence, pointing to well-coordinated attacking plays and passing as evidence.

"Coach Kim overturned the perception that Vietnam are the weakest team in the group," Sports Khan wrote.

Analysts from Footballlist identified three key factors of Vietnam's current success: organized pressure, strategic set pieces, and stamina management.

"Vietnam increased pressure in midfield and disrupted Jordan's attacking play. Instead of waiting for the opponent to make mistakes, they proactively created counter-attacks," the newspaper wrote.

Despite playing under the 30-degree Celsius heat at 2:30 p.m., the team disrupted Jordan's rhythm and avoided disadvantageous aerial duels through clever movement. The effective use of five substitutions allowed the squad to maintain high concentration levels throughout the full 90 minutes.

"This continues to be a match that shows why coach Kim Sang-sik has been so successful in leading Vietnam," Footballist added.

In the other match in Group A, hosts Saudi Arabia struggled to beat Kyrgyzstan 1-0, giving Vietnam the temporary lead thanks to a better goal difference (+2 to +1).

The team will look to maintain this momentum in their second group match against Kyrgyzstan on Friday. A win would keep the door wide open for Vietnam to reach the quarterfinals.

 

 

Victory over Jordan signals Vietnam's breakthrough from Southeast Asian football: Korean media

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