Hanoi, Jan. 24 -- The AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 third-place match on late January 23 (Vietnam time) concluded with a victory for Vietnam, whose players overcame the Republic of Korea (RoK) in a nerve-wracking shootout. The RoK entered the match with a nearly full-strength squad. Their roster stability made them the heavy favourites, particularly given the head-to-head history between the two sides. In four previous encounters at official tournaments, Vietnam's U23 team had never tasted victory, suffering three defeats-a statistic that provided a significant psychological edge to the Koreans. However, fuelled by confidence and a resilient spirit, Vietnam took the initiative from the opening whistle. Their proactive ball control paid off in th...