Hanoi (VNA) – Striker Nguyen Dinh Bac capped a landmark AFC U23 Asian Cup for Vietnam by claiming the tournament’s top scorer award, as the team finished third for their second-best result in the competition’s history.
Vietnam secured third place, behind only their runners-up finish in 2018, after a thrilling 7-6 penalty shootout victory over powerhouse the Republic of Korea on January 23 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Bac scored one goal and provided an assist in the match, which finished 2-2 after regulation time at King Abdullah Sports City Hall Stadium.
The 21-year-old ended the tournament with four goals and two assists across six matches, from the group stage to the third-place playoff, where Vietnam faced strong opposition including Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
In the final match on January 24, Japan defeated China 4-0, defending their continental title and becoming the first team to win the tournament three times./.
PM congratulates Vietnam’s U23 team on bronze medal at AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026
In the letter, the PM praised the team’s resilient and courageous performance throughout the tournament, saying this was especially evident in the third-place match, where the team secured a magnificent victory despite being reduced to 10 players.
