Kyrgyzstan media issues a warning to their team ahead of the match against U23 Vietnam

After losing 0-1 to U23 Saudi Arabia in the opening match, during which they played with one less player from the 34th minute due to Arsen Sharshenbekov’s red card, U23 Kyrgyzstan faces immense pressure going into the game against U23 Vietnam. If they suffer another defeat, coach Edmar Lacerda’s team is very likely to be eliminated early from the tournament.

Regarding the situation in Group A, Kyrgyzstan media regard U23 Vietnam as a very balanced, united, and determined team. This will be a significant challenge for Coach Lacerda’s squad.

The daily paper Aki Press believes U23 Vietnam is riding high on confidence after their impressive 2-0 win over U23 Jordan. Although the Southeast Asian team fields a squad entirely composed of domestic players, it includes many national team members, demonstrating quality and experience comparable to their rivals. Therefore, U23 Kyrgyzstan must put all their effort into defeating U23 Vietnam if they want to avoid elimination after the group stage.

Sport.kg also shows great respect for Coach Kim Sang Sik’s team, especially noting that both goals against U23 Jordan came from set-piece situations — a sign of U23 Vietnam’s organized and disciplined style of play.

The newspaper also recognizes U23 Kyrgyzstan’s efforts in their opening match, where they managed to hold on for most of the game against Saudi Arabia despite being down to 10 men.

Meanwhile, the daily Vecherniy Bishkek views the loss to Saudi Arabia as unfortunate but not overly negative, praising U23 Kyrgyzstan’s resilient fighting spirit.

This newspaper warns: "On January 9, U23 Kyrgyzstan enters a do-or-die match. While U23 Vietnam may not have the same level as Saudi Arabia, they are a very balanced, cohesive, and determined team. This will be a major test for Coach Lacerda’s squad."

The match between U23 Vietnam and U23 Kyrgyzstan will take place at King Abdullah Sports City Hall at 9 PM on January 9. With the Central Asian team under pressure to win and U23 Vietnam’s high momentum, the encounter is expected to be thrilling and tactically intense.