Vietnam U23 Stars: 'Defeating South Korea is a miraculous feat'

In an interview with Tuổi Trẻ Online, goalkeeper Trung Kiên emphasized that the victory over South Korea U23 in the 2026 Asian U23 Championship third-place match was an unforgettable miracle for the entire team.

Goalkeeper Trung Kiên believes that the win against South Korea U23 in the 2026 Asian U23 Championship third-place playoff was a miracle, resulting from the team's relentless effort beyond limits.

Speaking with Tuổi Trẻ Online, Trung Kiên admitted that from the very beginning, Vietnam U23 did not dare to set overly ambitious goals for the tournament. “Honestly, from the opening match, we never thought we could reach the quarterfinals or semifinals. Therefore, all five victories in the tournament were huge surprises and well-deserved rewards for the whole team's hard work,” the U23 Vietnam goalkeeper said.

According to Trung Kiên, during the group stage, Vietnam U23 made a strong impression with two convincing wins over Jordan U23 and Saudi Arabia U23.“The match against Jordan was very tough as it was our first game, but the entire team stayed extremely focused. The victory over Saudi Arabia was truly a memorable match for me personally and marked a turning point that helped me gain better confidence in the following games,” he shared, emphasizing that the opponent was the host team with many high-quality players and valuable transfer prices.

When asked about the toughest match, Trung Kiên did not hesitate to mention the battle against South Korea U23 in the third-place playoff. “That was a once-in-a-lifetime match for everyone. Only those on the field truly understand how hard we fought,” he recalled.

The goalkeeper born in 2003 revealed that the team’s stamina was almost completely drained entering extra time. “Everyone was exhausted, some even had to play out of their natural positions. But in the end, we stood firm and defeated South Korea U23 in the penalty shootout. For me, that was truly a miracle,” Trung Kiên asserted.

Also in the conversation with Tuổi Trẻ Online, Trung Kiên credited his growth to getting regular playing time at Hoàng Anh Gia Lai club. “Coach Ba Đức and the coaching staff gave me many opportunities to play in the V-League. Thanks to that, when I entered tournaments like the Southeast Asian U23 Championship, SEA Games 33, and the 2026 Asian U23 Championship, I had the chance to improve myself,” he said.

According to Trung Kiên, continuous exposure in the V-League helped him develop faster both technically and mentally, laying a foundation for greater challenges ahead.