Việt Nam's Nguyễn Đức Việt during the 2-1 loss to China. — Photo AFC

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam's U22s suffered a 1-2 defeat against China at the CFA Team China International Friendly Competition in Changsha, Hunan Province, on Wednesday.

After just 14 minutes the visitors took the lead when Aifeierding Aisikaer's effort beat Cao Văn Bình.

Despite going behind, Việt Nam went on to control the first half, creating systematic attacks that overwhelmed their opponents. They found an equaliser on the stroke of half time through Quốc Việt.

Full-match statistics indicated that Việt Nam had a higher possession than China and threatened with coordinated attacks, clearly reflecting the coaching staff's intentions.

Striker Nguyễn Đình Bắc missed a crucial opportunity in the 88th minute. After a defensive error from China, Bắc managed to get past a defender, setting up a one-on-one with the opposing goalkeeper. Unfortunately, his shot hit the post, leading to disappointment.

Bắc's miss proved more costly when China scored their second goal shortly after. He Xiaoke capitalised on an attack, beating goalkeeper in the penalty area.

Despite the 1-2 loss, Việt Nam displayed superior tactics, with coach Đinh Hồng Vinh noting that his young players exhibited maturity, physical strength, and courage beyond their opponents.

Coach Vinh praised the high professional quality of the tournament, which featured strong teams such as Uzbekistan, Malaysia, and host China.

"This is a great opportunity for young Vietnamese players to compete and gain valuable experience for their development," Vinh said.

Việt Nam will next face Uzbekistan on September 7 and Malaysia on September 10. - VNS