The U23 Chinese goalkeeper faces a challenge against U23 Vietnam

U23 Vietnam’s goalkeeper Tran Trung Kien and U23 China’s defender Liu Haofan both affirmed that their teams will enter the semifinal with maximum determination. The match on January 20 in Saudi Arabia promises to be a tense showdown between two in-form rivals.

According to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), U23 Vietnam aims to go further after finishing as runners-up in 2018. Meanwhile, U23 China is making their first semifinal appearance but holds a psychological edge, having never lost to Southeast Asian teams in their three previous encounters.

Before the match, goalkeeper Trung Kien said the entire team is highly focused and ready to execute coach Kim Sang-sik’s tactics.

“The whole team is in great spirits and determined to reach the final,” shared the goalkeeper from Hoang Anh Gia Lai. “I will play with all my ability and full concentration. Every match is different, but for us, maintaining focus is never an issue.”

Trung Kien also expressed excitement about facing Li Hao – the U23 China goalkeeper dubbed the “Spider-Man,” who has impressed with outstanding performances throughout the tournament.

“A goalkeeper playing all four matches while keeping clean sheets is an admirable feat. I believe he is a well-rounded keeper with all the necessary skills. However, we will compete with 100% determination to bring victory to our Vietnamese fans,” Trung Kien added.

According to AFC statistics, Li Hao has made 24 saves in this tournament – the highest among goalkeepers in the last four editions of the AFC U23 Championship. Notably, among keepers facing more than five shots on target, Li Hao is the only one with a perfect 100% save rate.

On the other side, defender Liu Haofan confirmed that U23 China is not ready to stop after reaching the knockout stage for the first time at the continental level.

“We are very excited and will give everything we have on the field,” said the Zhejiang FC defender. “I’m not overly worried about Vietnam because our defense is very solid. The backline and goalkeeper Li Hao have shown stability and reliability.”

In the quarterfinal against Uzbekistan, Liu Haofan came off the bench and quickly made an impact by successfully converting the first penalty in the shootout.

“I wasn’t nervous. After extra time, the coach asked who wanted to take the first penalty, and I volunteered. I practice penalties often, so I just focused on placing the ball in one corner without fancy moves,” Liu recalled. “I see pressure as motivation. Nothing will stop us, and the whole team will fight until the end.”

The semifinal between U23 Vietnam and U23 China is expected to be a thrilling contest, as the two teams reached the final four through different paths. Vietnam impressed with four consecutive wins, while China steadily overcame challenges to reach the semifinal for the first time.

Coach Kim Sang-sik hopes his players will maintain their impressive form as they pursue their first AFC U23 Championship title.

“We are facing a new challenge. I expect this to be a tough match, but the team will play calmly, bravely, and give their best effort to achieve our goal,” said coach Kim. “China is a difficult opponent, especially with their solid defense and goalkeeper Li Hao. However, we have prepared thoroughly and are ready to perform at our best.”

Meanwhile, U23 China’s head coach Antonio Puche/Vicente also urged his players not to be complacent after their win over 2018 champions Uzbekistan.

“Reaching the semifinals is a big dream for us,” said the Spanish coach. “Our approach is always to take it one game at a time. Vietnam is a well-organized team with tight defense and quick transitions. This will definitely be a big challenge, but my players are ready.”

This is the first time U23 Vietnam and U23 China meet in the AFC U23 Championship finals. In their last three matches against new opponents in the tournament, U23 China remains unbeaten (2 wins, 1 draw). Conversely, U23 Vietnam has won both of their most recent games against teams they faced for the first time in this competition.

U23 China currently holds the record for the most clean sheets in the tournament with four consecutive matches without conceding. This year, they also recorded three goalless draws, the highest among participating teams. Previously, China had only managed one clean sheet in 15 matches across past AFC U23 Championships.