Coach Dinh Hong Vinh: Quarterfinal ticket does not hide finishing problems

The goal conceded in the 5th minute against Uzbekistan could be dismissed as a momentary lapse in concentration. But for those who followed all three group-stage matches of Vietnam's U22 team at ASIAD 2026, it was no accident. It was the result of a chronic finishing disease. At Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya, Vietnam conceded in the 5th minute to Mohammadali Urinboev. They did not collapse. Instead, coach Dinh Hong Vinh's players pushed forward, controlled possession, and created clear chances. Nguyen Thai Quoc Cuong had at least two dangerous attempts, Nguyen Ngoc My tested the keeper from distance, and Nguyen Thanh Nhan put the ball in the net only to see it ruled out for offside. All Vietnam had to show before halftime were missed opportunities. When Nguyen Xuan Bac left the pitch in the 35th minute due to injury, the team lost its most important tempo-setter. Transitions from defense to attack became sluggish. Uzbekistan, a well-organized and physically imposing side, grew more comfortable sitting deep. In the 68th minute, Ibraimov danced past Pham Ly Duc and finished past goalkeeper Cao Van Binh to seal a 2-0 win. The numbers tell the story: after three group games, Vietnam attempted 51 shots but only 17 were on target, scoring three goals. Their conversion rate was under 6%. That is a terrible statistic for a team with ambitions of going deep in a continental tournament. Dinh Hong Vinh did not hide his frustration. "We are still off the pace. The team is not attacking efficiently enough and has not exploited the final third well," he said. The tactical issue is that Vietnam do not lack midfield dominance, but the final passes often lack sharpness. Forwards receive the ball in awkward positions, and attacking midfielders hesitate to shoot from distance. Against a disciplined Uzbek defense, half-cooked combinations are not enough. Historical data also shows that Vietnam struggle against Central Asian teams. Their pace and physicality suffocate Vietnamese attacks. Without solutions, a quarterfinal against likely South Korea – a side with three quality overage players and the motivation of military exemption if they win the gold medal – could be beyond reach. However, there is another angle: the near-defeat to Uzbekistan could be an advantage. It exposed the team's weaknesses before knockout football. Against South Korea, if Vietnam sit deep, defend compactly, and wait for counter-attacks instead of forcing possession against a superior opponent, they might spring a surprise. But that demands absolute precision in finishing – the very thing that has become the team's illness. The biggest question for the quarterfinal on September 25 is not who starts, but how to turn chances into goals. Football does not pay for regret. When the stadium lights go off, the accountant turns on the desk lamp; when the referee blows the whistle to start, all calculations mean nothing unless the ball ends up in the net.