Vietnam secured the bronze medal at the U23 Asian Cup on Friday evening following a tense 7-6 penalty shootout against South Korea, a match that extended so long it started to resemble more of a test of routine than a game of chance.
Following six consecutive penalties that all went in the same direction, Nguyen Thanh Nhan disrupted the trend with a crucial kick, leading Vietnam to an unforgettable win.
 |
|
South Korean goalkeeper Hwang Jae-yun in the 7-6 penalty shootout defeat against Vietnam in the U23 Asian Cup on January 23, 2026. Photo by AFC |
In a tense penalty shootout, South Korean goalkeeper Hwang Jae-yun appeared to have a one-sided connection with his right-hand post, leaping in that direction each time.
It wasn’t until the seventh try that he ultimately chose to go left, but Vietnam’s Nhan had different intentions. Nhan’s precise strike secured a 7-6 win for the Golden Star Warriors, leaving the goalkeeper without success after incorrectly predicting seven times consecutively.
“I sensed the goalkeeper was shifting towards [my] right, so I chose to kick in the other direction,” Nhan mentioned after the game.
 |
|
Images reveal South Korean goalkeeper Hwang Jae-yun repeatedly moving to the right before ultimately shifting to the left during the penalty shootout in the U23 Asian Cup third-place game against Vietnam, enabling their rivals to triumph 7-6 in the penalty round, following a 2-2 tie. |
The journey to that quirky showdown was an intense ride that kept supporters on the edge of their seats until the final moment.
Vietnam’s Nguyen Quoc Viet started the game strongly with a precise counterattack goal in the first half, but South Korea’s Kim Tae-won equalized with a moment of individual brilliance that momentarily quieted the red-clad fans in the second half.
The drama increased two minutes later when Nguyen Dinh Bac executed a remarkable free kick that found the back of the net, giving Vietnam the lead again. However, Dinh Bac’s evening shifted from “hero” to “nervous” in the 86th minute when he was sent off, leaving his teammates to face a challenging period with just ten players on the field.
South Korea eventually discovered a weakness in the defense in the final moments of added time, scoring an equalizer that led to extra time and ultimately the now-legendary penalty shootout. Even though they were down a player for the last part of the match, the Vietnamese team stayed exceptionally calm as they approached the penalty spot.
Vietnam won the bronze medal, making it only the second instance in the country’s history that it has achieved a top-four finish on the continent.
jasdooit 
Leave a comment