Vietnam better than Jordan in every aspect: Arab media

The match at King Abdullah Stadium on Tuesday saw Vietnam overwhelm a favored Jordan side from the opening whistle. Early pressure led to two first-half goals, with Nguyen Dinh Bac converting a penalty and Nguyen Hieu Minh scoring from a corner.

"They lacked individual and team strategy and made mistakes at every point in the match, allowing Vietnam to decide the game in the first half," Winwin wrote, adding that the Jordan players were not well-prepared professionally or mentally and all of them lacked focus, except for goalkeeper Abdel Rahman Talalga.

Coach Omar Najhi faced scrutiny for his starting lineup choices, with experts suggesting he should have fielded his strongest players against a rapidly improving Vietnam side rather than attempting a slow approach.

"Jordan showed no resistance after conceding," the newspaper added. "Their playing style was dull, with many mistakes made in the midfield, but the coaching staff did not intervene or find solutions."

Nguyen Thai Son (number 6) wins the ball against Odeh Fakhoury during Vietnam's 2-0 victory over Jordan in the U23 Asian Cup match at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Jan. 6, 2026. Photo by AFC

Furthermore, Jordan's offensive efforts were hampered by a lack of coordination and an over-reliance on individual efforts from Odeh Fakhoury.

Vietnam received high praise from Winwin for their disciplined and experienced display under coach Kim Sang-sik. The team demonstrated a clear tactical plan, utilizing smooth possession and intense pressure to exploit weaknesses in Jordan's defense. Even when dropping back to defend the lead, Vietnam remained a threat on the counterattacks, nearly adding a third goal late in the game.

Jordanian outlet Royal News assessed that the second half belonged to Jordan, but Vietnam organized their defense well and spread their formation effectively.

"They made substitutions to maintain stamina balance and successfully limited the danger from Jordan's attacks," it wrote.

The result marks the first time Jordan have lost to Vietnam at the U23 level. The defeat also extends Jordan's winless streak in U23 Asian Cup finals to five matches.

Vietnam have now maintained an unbeaten streak in opening matches for four consecutive U23 Asian Cup editions, previously securing draws against the UAE and Thailand, and a victory over Kuwait.

This victory puts Vietnam at the top of Group A, over host nation Saudi Arabia on goal difference. With three points secured, the team will face Kyrgyzstan next on Jan. 9 and Saudi Arabia on Jan. 12.