Hanoi, Jan. 13 -- Vietnamese football fans were left jubilant after the U23 team topped Group A with a perfect record to secure a place in the quarter-finals of the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup. With three consecutive victories and a maximum nine points against Jordan (2-0), Kyrgyzstan (2-1), and hosts Saudi Arabia (1-0), Vietnam defied expectations to finish first in what had been widely dubbed the tournament's "group of death". Entering the competition as the lowest-rated side in the group, the young Vietnamese players displayed remarkable resilience, composure, and fighting spirit, aided by a touch of luck, to overcome opponents superior in physique, fitness, and technical prowess. In the decisive Group A match on the evening of January 12, ...