Coach Dinh Hong Vinh still not satisfied despite reaching ASIAD 2026 quarter-finals: Lessons from missed chances

At Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya, the match between Vietnam U23 and Uzbekistan U23 was only in its fifth minute when Mohammadali Urinboev received a long pass from midfield, tore through Vietnam's young defense with his pace, and slotted the ball past goalkeeper Cao Van Binh. It was an early shock goal, the kind Southeast Asian teams often concede when facing Central Asian opponents at continental tournaments. Head coach Dinh Hong Vinh stood on the touchline, constantly gesturing for his players to stay calm and rebuild their shape. But that psychological blow pushed Vietnam into a chasing game, forcing them to push higher and leave space behind. The 2026 Asian Games are being held in Japan, with men's football taking place in Nagoya and nearby areas. Vietnam U23 were placed in Group C alongside Uzbekistan, the Philippines and Kuwait. After the first two matches, Vietnam had four points – a draw against Kuwait and a win over the Philippines – enough to lead the group but not yet secured. Uzbekistan had three points and needed only a win to go top. The Philippines also had a chance if they beat Kuwait. In that context, the match at Paloma Mizuho Stadium would decide the top two positions in Group C, directly affecting the knockout bracket. Coach Dinh Hong Vinh, known for developing young players, fielded a squad featuring many members from the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup. Compared to Uzbekistan, Vietnam were younger but not short of skill or speed. The biggest issue was big-match experience and finishing ability. We chase stories, but in fact we chase people's dreams. This generation carries dreams of changing their lives and reaching new heights on the continental stage, and the match against Uzbekistan was the first real test of those dreams. Back to the match, Vietnam gradually regained control after the early goal. Attacks down both flanks through Nguyen Thai Quoc Cuong and Nguyen Ngoc My created several chances, but their shots were either blocked by Uzbekistan defenders or missed the target. In the first half, Nguyen Thanh Nhan did put the ball in the net, but the goal was ruled out for offside. It was a debatable moment, though replays showed the assistant referee was correct. The turning point came in the 35th minute. Central midfielder Nguyen Xuan Bac – the team's midfield anchor – was forced off with an injury. A player always leaves with half a story; the other half remains behind closed doors. The full extent of the injury was not disclosed, but the forced change cost Vietnam their rhythm and ability to transition quickly. From that moment, Uzbekistan pressed higher and disrupted every build-up. The first half ended 1-0. In the second half, Uzbekistan deliberately slowed the tempo and waited for counter-attacks. Vietnam had more possession but lacked ideas in the final third. Most attacks ended with long-range shots that rarely threatened the goal. In the 68th minute, Ibraimov dribbled past Pham Ly Duc and fired into the net past Cao Van Binh to make it 2-0. Watching from the stands at Paloma Mizuho Stadium, I had the clear feeling that Vietnam were not overrun in terms of overall play, but they lost every decisive moment. Vietnam's aggregate statistics after three group games were 51 shots, 17 on target, and three goals. Their conversion rate stood at just 5.9%, significantly lower than other teams reaching the quarter-finals. Looking at how they created chances, Vietnam approached the opposition box well, but their finishing was poor. If Quoc Cuong and Ngoc My had been more accurate, the result could have been different, as Coach Dinh Hong Vinh admitted: “If the early first-half chances had become goals, the situation could have changed.” Playing far from home, the stands at Paloma Mizuho were still filled with yellow-starred red flags as thousands of Vietnamese supporters in Japan spent the whole day cheering for the team. Drums and familiar songs rang out even when the side were two goals down. That shows football passion is not measured by the scoreline, and that fierce support gave the players extra energy in the final minutes. In a harsh environment like the Asian Games, the emotional support of fans sometimes matters more than any tactical drill. In Vietnam's Asian Games history, the team often stopped at the group stage or the last 16. But since the 2026 miracle under coach Park Hang-seo, fans have expected more from every edition. Coach Dinh Hong Vinh's current generation may not have stars like Quang Hai or Cong Phuong from that time, but they have greater balance and a hunger to prove themselves. That balance could be a powerful weapon in a tournament where physicality and fighting spirit sometimes outweigh individual skill. Many viewed this match pessimistically: losing 0-2 to Uzbekistan and scoring so few goals means how can they face South Korea? But looking deeper, this defeat could be a valuable test. Vietnam actively experimented with the line-up, gave young players opportunities, and kept energy for the knockout stage. Moreover, finishing second in Group C might help Vietnam avoid some strong teams on the other side of the bracket, although that still depends on results elsewhere. Coach Dinh Hong Vinh was not satisfied, but his frustration was actually a positive sign. He did not look for excuses, instead openly admitted that “the team still lacks rhythm, attacks ineffectively, and fails to exploit the final third of the pitch.” At national-team level, a coach who confronts weaknesses right after qualifying is building the foundation for improvement. More worrying are the injuries to Xuan Bac and Quoc Cuong, because they are key players. If they cannot recover in time, the coaching staff will have to rethink the entire midfield and right-wing channel. Vietnam will wait for the Group D results to know their quarter-final opponent. If South Korea avoid defeat against Saudi Arabia, Vietnam will face the Koreans – a young and hungry squad buoyed by the military-service exemption granted to Asian Games gold medalists. That is a massive challenge, but Vietnamese football once produced a miracle at the 2026 Asian Games by reaching the semi-finals. With three days to recover, a careful plan and no fear of big opponents, Coach Dinh Hong Vinh and his players can still write their own story. In football, nothing is permanent – even promises made in front of cameras.