U22 Vietnam: From Chengdu to… Rajamangala

15/11/2025 06:55:00 FieldFrenzy

Six years ago, U22 Vietnam stunned many by beating U22 China 2-0 in Wuhan and then capturing the gold at SEA Games 30. Will history repeat itself with another victory over U22 China in Chengdu?

1. If in 2019, Tiến Linh’s two goals against U23 China in Wuhan marked the beginning of Coach Park Hang Seo’s golden campaign at SEA Games 30, then last week’s win in Chengdu strangely recalls that image. It seems to open a "lucky circle" for Vietnamese youth football.

What’s remarkable is that this victory is even more special considering U22 Vietnam did not field their strongest squad, as many key players joined late. Coach Kim Sang-sik—who will officially lead the team at SEA Games 33—was not directly managing. Still, the young team under interim coach Đinh Hồng Vinh played with surprising spirit and unity.

In the second half, U22 Vietnam even dominated possession and applied high pressing, causing U22 China to repeatedly make mistakes. The coordinated plays in midfield, quick transitions, and proactive defense demonstrated that the red-shirt team is being built on a clear tactical foundation. Minh Phúc’s goal was a deserved reward for a team that knew how to control the match against a stronger opponent.

The confidence shown in Chengdu indicates that U22 Vietnam is genuinely improving its international competitive mentality, something the team needs as they look ahead to SEA Games 2025—where the pressure to win gold will be intense.

U22 Vietnam kicked off their journey to conquer SEA Games gold with a 1-0 victory over U22 China. Photo by Panda Cup 2025

2. Commenting on their team’s defeat, newspaper 163 bitterly stated: "Six years later, we are still stuck in place." In 2019, U22 Vietnam’s achievement in Wuhan shocked Asian football, leading to Guus Hiddink’s dismissal, while Park Hang Seo’s squad created a golden miracle at SEA Games 30, ending a 60-year wait.

In the Philippines, Tiến Linh, Hoàng Đức, Hùng Dũng, Văn Hậu, and others crafted a perfect campaign: 7 unbeaten games, big wins over Brunei (6-0), Laos (6-1), Cambodia (4-0), twice beating Indonesia (2-1, 3-0), and drawing Thailand (2-2). Vietnam won with the strongest attack and the tightest defense—a victory of both resilience and stature.

Six years later, history seems to write a similar chapter again. From Wuhan to Chengdu, and soon to Rajamangala (Thailand)—the SEA Games 33 venue—this journey inspires much hope. The win over China is not only a "good omen" but also an affirmation that Vietnamese youth football maintains its fighting identity despite a new generation of players.

The current U23 Vietnam may not have as many star players as the 2019 team, but the common traits remain: discipline, ambition, and perseverance. In Coach Kim Sang-sik’s hands, these qualities will be valuable materials to build a team strong both technically and mentally.

3. What Đinh Hồng Vinh and his staff achieved at the Panda Cup can be regarded as a "first draft" for the system Coach Kim will soon implement. When the squad is complete and the style further polished through matches against U23 Uzbekistan and U23 South Korea, U23 Vietnam promises to enter SEA Games 33 better equipped than ever. This is the "winning DNA" that Vietnamese football has developed over seven years since Coach Park Hang Seo started the golden era.

Football sometimes follows strange circles of destiny. Six years ago, the victory over China opened the golden door in Manila. Will the same happen again from Chengdu to Bangkok? If the past predicts the future, Vietnamese fans have every right to dream that the journey from Chengdu to Rajamangala will once again end with SEA Games gold.

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