Vietnam coach Kim apologizes, takes responsibility for U23 Asian Cup semifinal loss

“I sincerely apologize to Vietnamese fans, both those in the stadium and those watching on television, because we could not win,” Kim said after the match.

“I take full responsibility for this result.”

Kim said his team lost concentration on a corner kick that resulted in the opening goal and acknowledged that China’s tactical discipline and defensive structure limited Vietnam’s ability to recover.

China broke the deadlock early in the second half and added a second goal minutes later, before completing the scoring late on as Vietnam struggled to respond.

Kim praised his players’ effort, noting they continued to push forward despite playing a man down late in the match, and said the team would quickly shift focus to the third-place game.

Vietnam will face South Korea in the third-place match on Friday.

The 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup is being held in Saudi Arabia from January 6 to 24.