Top 10 Most Memorable Moments of Vietnam U23 Team at the 2018 AFC U23 Championship

Công Phượng opened the scoring for Vietnam, but U23 Iraq's superior physicality and stamina quickly allowed them to dominate the game. Aymen Hussein equalized for Iraq at 1-1, and early in the first extra time, he scored again with a header, putting U23 Iraq ahead. However, U23 Vietnam remained resilient, playing with determination and a sense of destiny. In the second half of extra time, amid a chaotic situation in front of Iraq's goal, Phan Văn Đức calmly controlled the ball and fired a left-footed shot into the top corner to equalize at 2-2 for Vietnam. This crucial goal reignited the dream for Vietnamese football, giving them a genuine chance to make it to the semifinals—the final four of the tournament.

After Phan Văn Đức's brilliant strike, Vietnam continued their offensive. In the 112th minute, from a left-wing corner, Đức Chinh made a run across the Iraq defenders and leaped high to head the ball past goalkeeper Ahmed Basil, giving Vietnam a 3-2 lead. Đức Chinh's goal sent the fans into a frenzy, and U23 Vietnam was once again proving that their fairy tale run in the AFC U23 Championship was real. This goal gave Vietnam a golden opportunity to advance to the semifinals, among the top four teams in Asia.

Just minutes after Đức Chinh's third goal for Vietnam, Alaa Mahawi coolly slotted the ball past Tiến Dũng to level the score at 3-3. The match went to a penalty shootout to determine the winner. Đức Chinh successfully converted the first penalty, and Tiến Dũng made an impeccably precise save to deny Iraq, bringing Vietnam a 5-3 victory in the shootout. This victory continued their fairytale run. For the first time in Southeast Asian football history, a team made it to the semifinals. The entire region was buzzing with pride. Indonesian media even exclaimed, 'You make all of Southeast Asia proud.' Never before had the Vietnamese national team caused such a seismic shock, bringing fans to new emotional heights. Vietnam’s U23 team was officially in the semifinals—a dream result that was also richly deserved under Coach Park Hang Seo's leadership.

Confidently stepping into the semifinal against U23 Qatar, Vietnam continued their fairy tale journey at the AFC U23 Championship. Coach Park Hang Seo and his team entered the match with confidence and composure, but Qatar proved to be a formidable opponent, constantly applying pressure. In the penalty shootout, Qatar initially took the lead with a successful conversion. Despite the challenges posed by Qatar, U23 Vietnam gradually regained their balance, and the breakthrough came in the 69th minute. Quang Hải made a brilliant run to meet a cross from his teammate, skillfully placing the ball into the narrow corner of the net to equalize 1-1. His goal reignited the dream for U23 Vietnam, keeping their fairytale alive and giving them a chance at a place in the final—something no Southeast Asian team had ever achieved before.

With the score tied 1-1, U23 Qatar pressed forward relentlessly, putting immense pressure on Vietnam's penalty area. Amid a chaotic scramble in front of Tiến Dũng's goal, Ali managed to put Qatar ahead. But just one minute after Ali's goal, Quang Hải delivered a 'magical' curving shot that sliced through the Qatar defense and found the back of the net, leveling the score at 2-2. This priceless goal from Quang Hải sent shockwaves of joy through every fan, as U23 Vietnam's fairytale continued with a real shot at making it to the final—a game that seemed like an impossible dream just days before.

After a 2-2 draw in 120 minutes, U23 Vietnam and U23 Qatar faced off in a dramatic penalty shootout to determine the winner. Quang Hải missed his penalty in the first round, but U23 Vietnam’s 'Golden Hands' goalkeeper, Tiến Dũng, became the hero, making two brilliant saves to secure a 4-3 victory for Vietnam. This victory saw the team make history by reaching the final, continuing their extraordinary journey. The entire nation erupted in joy, with streets filled with red flags, and the cry of 'Vietnam' echoed loudly. The passion and pride for Vietnamese football had never been higher.

Entering the final match itself was historic for U23 Vietnam, but scoring an 'extraordinary' goal against U23 Uzbekistan was a moment that seemed 'unbelievable.' Despite being under pressure after conceding a goal, U23 Vietnam displayed immense courage in the face of harsh weather conditions. Following a foul on Công Phượng, Vietnam was awarded a free kick just outside the penalty area. Quang Hải then delivered a world-class free kick, curling the ball perfectly into the top corner of U23 Uzbekistan’s net. While Vietnam's golden dream seemed to be within reach through the penalty shootout, a last-minute goal by U23 Uzbekistan in extra time sealed their victory at 2-1, crowning them champions. Though the golden trophy eluded Vietnam, Quang Hải’s free kick will forever remain a legendary goal in the nation’s football history.

After a narrow 1-2 loss to U23 South Korea in their opening match, Coach Park Hang Seo and his players faced an uphill battle against U23 Australia in their second group game. Despite being the underdogs, both in skill and physicality, Vietnam didn’t dare dream of a positive result. However, after missing several chances, Quang Hải struck decisively with his left foot, scoring the only goal of the match and securing an unforgettable 1-0 victory. This historic win over U23 Australia not only shocked the footballing world but also opened the door to the quarter-finals, with Quang Hải’s golden goal in the 72nd minute making him the hero of the match.

Following their historic victory over U23 Australia, U23 Vietnam was full of determination heading into their third group match against Syria. This was a must-win game for both teams to secure a quarter-final berth. Syria, stronger in every aspect, came out with a dominant performance right from the start, putting immense pressure on Vietnam’s defense. Despite the overwhelming force, U23 Vietnam stood firm with disciplined play and unyielding spirit, repelling Syria's thunderous shots. The match ended in a 0-0 draw, which was enough for Vietnam to continue their fairytale run and make history by advancing to the quarter-finals of the AFC U23 Championship, a milestone for Vietnamese football.

U23 Vietnam's journey to the quarter-finals of the 2018 AFC U23 Championship had already drawn massive attention from the media and fans alike. Facing U23 Iraq, one of Asia's strongest teams, seemed a daunting task, but Coach Park Hang Seo’s squad entered the match with confidence and composure. In the 13th minute, a stunning volley from Văn Đức set up Công Phượng, who fired a brilliant one-touch shot into the net. This goal by Công Phượng gave U23 Vietnam a huge morale boost as they faced a formidable opponent. His 'spark' ignited hope for a place in the semi-finals, as the team now believed they could achieve the impossible.