‘Vietnam underestimated us,’ Chinese player says of U23 Asian Cup victory

In their most recent meeting, Vietnam beat China 1-0 at the U23 Panda Cup friendly tournament on Chinese soil in November 2025. Ahead of the U23 Asian Cup semifinals, Vietnam had looked far more impressive, winning four matches convincingly. China, by contrast, reached this stage with a pragmatic approach and had scored just one goal.

However, at Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium on Tuesday night, China completely stifled Vietnam.

Asked about the difference between the two teams, Liu said it came down to mentality and mindset. “Vietnam underestimated us and treated us like a weaker team,” he said. “We, on the other hand, treated every opponent as a strong team.”

According to the Chinese captain, the team’s strength lies in their collective spirit, focus on taking each match one at a time, and fighting for every situation. Against Vietnam, China scored three goals, equal to their total goals in 10 matches from the 2022 tournament through the quarterfinals of 2026. They also extended their clean-sheet streak to five matches, equaling Uzbekistan’s mark at the 2024 tournament, and could set a new record if they concede no goals in the final.

“Keeping clean sheets is not just down to the defense or goalkeeper Li Hao,” Liu said. “It’s the effort of the whole team, including forwards like Wang Yudong and Behram Abduweli, every single member.”

Against Vietnam, China unexpectedly adopted an attacking approach and also benefited from some fortune when Vietnam’s key center back Nguyen Hieu Minh was injured and forced off in the 30th minute.

China opened the scoring in the 47th minute following a scramble between Peng Xiao and Nguyen Xuan Bac in the box. Peng, who was named Man of the Match, said he was being pulled from behind, but praised Bao Shengxin’s delivery from the corner kick. “I just had to stand there and let the ball hit my head into the net,” Peng said.

Five minutes later, Xiang Yuwang doubled the lead, allowing China to play with greater comfort.

The situation became even more favorable for China when Vietnam center back Pham Ly Duc received a straight red card in the 74th minute. China created a series of counterattacking chances but only sealed the 3-0 win in the eighth minute of stoppage time, courtesy of Wang Yudong.

Chinese defender Peng Xiao (No. 15) celebrates the opening goal in the 47th minute of China’s 3-0 victory over Vietnam in the semi-finals of the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup, at the Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Jan. 20, 2026. Photo by AFC

Chinese players celebrated the victory from the pitch to the dressing room.

Fullback Hu Hetao described the locker room as “a stage for all kinds of traditional art performances.” Peng Xiao said he would celebrate only through the night before refocusing on preparation for the final against Japan, who beat South Korea 1-0 in the other semifinal.

This marks China’s first appearance in the U23 Asian Cup final and the first final for a Chinese men’s national team in more than 21 years, since the 2004 AFC U19 Championship, where they lost 2-0 to South Korea.

“We will definitely play well and fight with everything we have in every minute,” Liu said.

Hu urged his teammates to “push for one more match and then go home.”

Xiang said: “I just told my teammates it feels like a dream. It’s unbelievable that we]re in the final. We have no pressure now and will play freely, giving everything we have to try to win the title.”

The final of the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup will take place at 10 p.m. on Jan. 24. At the same time one day earlier, Vietnam will face South Korea in the third-place playoff.