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Vietnam U23 stuns Saudi Arabia U23 to seal top spot as AFC U23 Championship group action ends early

12 January 2026

Vietnam U23 stuns Saudi Arabia U23 to seal top spot as AFC U23 Championship group action ends early
Vietnam U23 tops Group A as Saudi U23 exits the competition.

Match Update

Saudi Arabia's young squad were knocked out of the AFC U23 Championship after a 1-0 defeat to Vietnam, with the result decided on the day.

Key moment & Standings

Vietnam's strike by Dinh Nguyen in the 64th minute proved decisive on the home pitch at Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium, lifting Vietnam to nine points and top of the group.

Saudi's campaign ends with three points, while Jordan trails behind and Kyrgyzstan remains without a tally.

It was a disappointing finish for the Green Falcons, who will look to regroup in time for future qualifiers.

Punchline: If football were a math test, Saudi’s answers would be out of scope—Vietnam just showed the solution.

Punchline: Note to the greens: next time bring a calculator; your chances were never an integer.

Author

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Emma Amme

I am Emma Amme, an English sports journalist born in 1998. Passionate about astronomy, contemporary dance, and handcrafted woodworking, I share my sensitive view of sports.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the final score and who scored?

Vietnam U23 won 1-0, with Dinh Nguyen finding the net in the 64th minute.

What are the group implications of the result?

Vietnam leads Group A with nine points; Saudi Arabia has three and is eliminated; Jordan has six; Kyrgyzstan remains at zero.

Where was the match played?

Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.