U23 Vietnam vs Uzbekistan: A draw is enough, but no room for complacency

Nagoya night, when the final whistle blew in the Kuwait match, Nguyen Ngoc My's equalizer in the 80th minute was like a cut that tore the silence. But football does not allow emotions to last. Four points after two matches is a buffer, but also an abyss if U23 Vietnam underestimate Uzbekistan. “An empty stadium, but the match still has its own heartbeat” – I remember writing that on a summer night in 2026. Tonight, that heartbeat is more audible than ever.

Uzbekistan has advanced with six absolute points. Vietnam only needs a draw to surely finish second in Group C. The rhythm mismatch comes from the other side: the Central Asian team can rotate five to seven positions. Several of their key players had to play with ten men for most of the second half against Kuwait, so saving energy for the knockout round is inevitable. The game, therefore, may unfold in a way that Uzbekistan holds the ball a lot but does not push high. This is when coach Dinh Hong Vinh's defensive-counterattacking tactics are put on the scale.

Vietnam's problem lies in finishing more than in ball possession. Against Kuwait, the team created seven chances but only had one shot on target. Nguyen Ngoc My's equalizer came from a set piece. Against the Philippines, a late goal in the final minutes further showed that the attack lacks someone who knows how to position and make decisions inside the box. But tonight, a beautiful team is not needed. What is needed is a team that knows how to wait. The speed of Thanh Nhan and Le Phat will be the most dangerous weapon when Uzbekistan pushes forward. A through ball, a moment of control, and everything can be decided in an instant.

Many believe Vietnam should attack to win the group. I do not think so. Uzbekistan, even with rotation, remains the best-organized team in the group, with superior physicality and aerial duels. Pushing high means widening the gaps between lines – a gift for their counterattacks. “At this age, I no longer run faster, but I know which way the wind blows,” I once said. Tonight's wind will blow in the direction of active defense. A draw is enough. But enough does not mean safe; it demands extreme patience and a cool head. Moreover, history shows that Vietnamese youth teams often lose their rhythm when forced to attack. Therefore, trying to win at all costs could be a double-edged sword.

In more than four decades following youth football, I have learned that: “A polymath in the arena is someone who knows when to stop analyzing and start feeling.” Tonight, the red-shirted players need to feel the rhythm of the match, feel the monotony of the opponent, and feel their own fear. If they do, the quarterfinals are not the destination; it is a place to prove that Vietnamese people know how to draw when needed, and know how to win when needed.