To test new formations and players, head coach Dinh Hong Vinh fielded a completely different lineup from the team that lost 0-1 to Qatar on October 9.

Names like Nguyen Tan, Nam Hai, Tuan Phong, and Thanh Trung - still relatively unfamiliar to fans - were given opportunities to impress and earn spots in upcoming official tournaments.

However, with squad rotation and the absence of eight key players called up to the senior national team for their match against Nepal, U23 Vietnam faced significant challenges in maintaining cohesion and strategy, resulting in two early goals conceded in the first half.

Just before the break, Van Thuan scored to narrow the deficit to 1-2 for coach Vinh’s team.

In the second half, key players like Van Truong, Ly Duc, Quoc Viet, and Viktor Le were brought on, injecting energy and creativity into the squad.

With improved control of the match, the Southeast Asian champions equalized 2-2 thanks to a goal from Quoc Viet.

However, in the 78th minute, Qatar U23 struck again with a precise finish to seal the 3-2 victory.

Although Vietnam U23 lost both friendlies to Qatar (0-1 and 2-3), their overall performance, especially from key players like Van Truong and Quoc Viet, was promising.

After the training camp, the players will return to their clubs for Round 7 of the LPBank V-League 2025/26 and are scheduled to regroup in November as they continue preparations for the 33rd SEA Games - with the clear goal of winning gold.

Dai Nam