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Vietnam’s historic win against South Korea at the 2026 U23 Asian Cup third-place match, decided through a dramatic penalty shootout, has drawn significant backlash from Korean media, who expressed strong disapproval of their team’s underwhelming display.

In a tense shootout on the evening of January 23, both teams successfully converted their first six kicks with accuracy. The turning point arrived in the seventh round when goalkeeper Cao Van Binh, making his debut in the tournament, saved Bae Hyun-seo’s attempt. Forward Nguyen Thanh Nhan took advantage of the opportunity, scoring the winning penalty to secure a landmark victory for Vietnamese football.

Athletes celebrate together following Vietnam’s win against South Korea in the third-place game of the U23 Asian Cup at King Abdullah Sports City Hall, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Jan. 23, 2026. Photo by AFC

Prior to this game, Vietnam had never defeated South Korea in U23 competitions, with a record of three draws and six losses in nine matches. Official competition history featured losses at the 2006 and 2018 Asian Games, as well as several encounters in the U23 Asian Cup. This win also ended a run of setbacks in continental third-place playoff matches, where Vietnam had previously fallen short at the U20 level and during the 2018 Asian Games.

Coach Kim Sang-sik’s team arrived at the match as underdogs, without key center-back Nguyen Hieu Minh because of an injury and Pham Ly Duc due to a ban. Although South Korea led in statistics with 32 shots compared to Vietnam’s 5 and controlled the ball, Vietnam executed a well-organized counter-attack strategy.

The team took the initiative in the first half when Nguyen Quoc Viet scored from a tight angle following a pass from Nguyen Dinh Bac. After the break, the game became even more intense. Just two minutes after Kim Tae-won leveled the score for South Korea, Nguyen Dinh Bac regained Vietnam’s advantage with an impressive free kick, making the score 2-1.

Nevertheless, Dinh Bac moved from hero to being shown a red card in the 86th minute after committing a dangerous challenge. With only 10 players on the field, Vietnam struggled to maintain their lead but allowed a heartbreaking goal in the final moments of added time, resulting in a 2-2 draw at the end of regular play.

Throughout the two halves of extra time, goalkeeper Van Binh served as the foundation of the defense, enduring a fierce South Korean attack to lead his team into the penalty shootout, where he eventually emerged as the hero.

South Korean athletes prepare for a penalty shootout against Vietnam in the U23 Asian Cup third-place game at King Abdullah Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on January 23, 2026. Photo by AFC

South Korean media meltdown

The South Korean press responded with intense anger to the loss.Osencalled the loss “a dark chapter in the history of South Korean football,” while publications suchJoongAng and Four Four Twocalled the outcome “shameful” and “humiliating.”

South Korea was outclassed in both strategy and determination, despite their opponents losing two crucial central defenders and their key forward receiving a red card.JoongAng reported.

Sports Khancondemned the team’s “dull and unexciting style of play.”

“Faulty crosses, dull attempts, the absence of coordination and the passes within Vietnam’s penalty box merely contributed to the numbers without any genuine significance,” it stated.

Yonhapcommented: “South Korea faced a significant setback to its dignity following a defeat against its long-standing rival Japan, and was also unable to overcome Vietnam in the third-place game.”

This bronze medal marks Vietnam as the sixth nation to achieve a top-three finish in the U23 Asian Cup on multiple occasions, alongside Japan, Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and Iraq.