Coach Dinh Hong Vinh unsatisfied despite reaching ASIAD 2026 quarter-finals

51 shots, 17 on target, 3 goals. Those numbers were enough for Vietnam to get past the group stage at ASIAD 2026, but not enough to satisfy coach Dinh Hong Vinh. After a 0-2 loss to Uzbekistan at Paloma Mizuho Stadium, he said bluntly: "If the early first-half chances had been converted, the match situation could have been different." The reality is Vietnam advanced, but the road ahead promises more challenges. The match against Uzbekistan was Vietnam's toughest test in Group C. The Central Asian team applied early pressure and opened the scoring in the 5th minute through Mohammadali Urinboev. Vietnam then pushed forward and created several clear chances. Attempts by Nguyen Thai Quoc Cuong and Nguyen Ngoc My were either blocked or missed the target. Nguyen Thanh Nhan once found the net but the goal was disallowed for offside. Notably, Vietnam controlled possession well for most of the time after the opening goal. However, a lack of sharpness in the final third prevented them from turning dominance into an equalizer. Coach Dinh Hong Vinh admitted: "We intended to start cautiously against a strong opponent. But when Uzbekistan raised the tempo, a moment of lost concentration led to the goal. After that, the team regained confidence and controlled the ball. If the early first-half chances had been converted, the match situation could have been different." A key turning point came in the 35th minute when central midfielder Nguyen Xuan Bac was forced off due to injury. His absence reduced Vietnam's ability to control the rhythm and transition between phases. Pressure was no longer sustained, and the team gradually became stagnant. In the second half, Uzbekistan continued to exploit space and scored their second goal in the 68th minute, as Ibraimov dribbled past Pham Ly Duc and fired a powerful shot inside the box, beating goalkeeper Cao Van Binh. Looking at the statistics, Vietnam's issue is not creating chances but finishing them. Having followed the team's matches at this year's ASIAD, I noticed that the attack often penetrates the penalty area but lacks composure in the final moment. In total, after three group-stage matches, they had 51 shots but only 17 on target, scoring 3 goals. Numbers don't lie, but they keep secrets. And the secret here is that poor finishing left Vietnam with only 4 points, five behind Uzbekistan. Compared to other teams in the group, Uzbekistan stood out with their ability to maximize chances. They did not need much possession but still scored twice in a match where Vietnam produced more threatening attacks. This shows that in knockout rounds, where every mistake is punished, Vietnam must significantly improve their finishing to advance further. Another concern is fitness. Coach Dinh Hong Vinh said the team had only three days of preparation before the tournament, which affected their fluidity. He said: "We are still slow in rhythm. The attack is not effective, and we haven't exploited the final third well. However, the new players will gain experience for the future when playing alongside the group that competed in the 2026 AFC U-23 Asian Cup." His optimism is justified, but first, the coaching staff must quickly find replacements for injured duo Xuan Bac and Quoc Cuong. From a tactical perspective, losing Xuan Bac is a much bigger blow than a typical injury. He is the playmaker, helping the team control the match tempo. When he left, Vietnam lost the link between midfield and attack, making passes more disjointed. Statistics are only a map. The real path lies between the numbers, showing that Vietnam need a quality backup for this position. Despite the loss, the objective of advancing past the group stage was achieved. Vietnam finished second in Group C with 4 points, one ahead of the Philippines. Their quarter-final opponent will be determined after South Korea face Saudi Arabia in the final round of Group D. South Korea need only a draw to secure top spot, and they are likely to be Vietnam's opponent. The East Asian side is considered a top contender for gold thanks to their strongest squad, featuring three quality overage players. They also have extra motivation, as a gold medal would exempt players from mandatory military service under South Korean law. The Asian stage is always ruthless, but Vietnamese football is no stranger to surprises. Coach Dinh Hong Vinh insists the team will be mentally ready for any opponent. He identified the immediate tasks as recovering fitness and finding replacements for the two injured players. The quarter-final at Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya on September 25 will be a real test of Vietnam's ambitions. There is a paradox fans must recognize: Vietnam reached the quarter-finals but failed to show a convincing display against a strong opponent. If they face South Korea, the pressure will be much greater. Missed chances against Uzbekistan could become a costly lesson if the attack does not improve. In modern football, victory does not come from creating many chances but from seizing the right moment. The question is whether Vietnam can be sharp enough to do that against South Korea's disciplined defense. To answer that, we need to look at the data. Uzbekistan showed that to beat a good defensive team, you need maximum efficiency in final shots. Vietnam are lacking that. However, football always has its shocks, and the national team has surprised pundits before. Will the magic repeat at Nagoya on September 25? Let's wait, because the pitch never tells the outcome in advance.