Losing to Syria, Vietnam holds its breath waiting for a ticket to the 2025 AFC U20 Finals

At Lach Tray Stadium, Vietnam and Syria played with a draw mentality - the result was just enough to be able to hold hands and advance. The two teams played tightly so no truly dangerous opportunities were created in the first half.

The same situation continued for the next 30 minutes of the second half, before Syria increased the pace with many dangerous attacks from the left flank. In the 75th minute, Anas Dahhan shot from about 22 meters away from the left. Although the ball hit the target, goalkeeper Pham Dinh Hai did not handle it well when he missed the ball and sent it over the bar. Immediately after that, Syria took a corner kick, the ball missed Youshaa Knaj's head and then hit Nguyen Ngoc Chien's head in a passive position and flew into the net.

Vietnam tried to push up their attacking formation, but their reduced physical strength meant they had few chances to approach the visitors' goal. In the first minute of extra time, the home team coordinated well on the right wing, before substitute Hoang Khanh passed the ball to Hoang Minh Tien, who shot wide of the goal.

Losing 0-1, Vietnam ranked second in Group A with nine points, with a goal difference of +10, while Syria led with 12 absolute points.

The 2025 AFC U20 Championship qualifiers have 10 groups, with the 10 winners and five best runners-up, joining hosts China in the finals. Because there are four teams in the group, the runners-up in group five must disregard their results against the bottom-placed team. So, minus Vietnam’s 5-0 win over Bhutan – bottom of Group A – Vietnam has six points and a goal difference of +5.

In the second place rankings, eight teams are tied on six points, with Iraq temporarily in first place with a goal difference of +17. Vietnam has the same goal difference of +5 as Yemen and Qatar, but is temporarily ranked higher thanks to scoring more goals, with seven goals compared to six and five. India (+2) currently closes the top five with 6 points and a goal difference of +4. Following are Australia (+3), Kyrgyzstan (+3), Cambodia (-3). Two teams have three points, including UAE (-1) and Tajikistan (-1).

Vietnam lost the right to self-determination, but still has a chance to be in the top five second-placed teams.

Cambodia is definitely not in the top five, as Group B has ended. Meanwhile, UAE (Group C), Tajikistan (E) cannot have more than six points. Vietnam must hope that these teams do not win, or win but cannot have a better goal difference than +5. Another opponent, Kyrgyzstan in Group I, is also unlikely to win because they will face a very strong team, Japan, in the final round.

Starting lineup

Vietnam:Pham Dinh Hai, Dang Thanh Binh, Nguyen Bao Long, Le Nguyen Van Tho, Nguyen Le Tuan Khai, Nguyen Ngoc Chien, Nguyen Le Phat, Le Van Quang Duyet, Nguyen Dang Duong, Nguyen Cong Phuong, Hoang Minh Tien

Syria:Maksim Sarraf, Mohammad Almustafa, Hasan Almahmoud, Ahmad Alkalou, Wessam Dukhan, Abdurahman Alarjah, Ahmad Soufi, Anas Dahhan, Mamdouh Warda, Mahmoud Alomar, Youshaa.