Vietnam U17’s hopes of an early World Cup qualification were dealt a massive blow following a late defensive collapse against South Korea in their AFC U17 Asian Cup Group C encounter. Despite holding the lead until the final seven minutes, the “Young Warriors” conceded four unanswered goals in a dramatic closing surge to fall 4-1 at King Abdullah Sports City.

The side coached by Cristiano Roland appeared to be in total control after Le Sy Bach broke the deadlock in the 32nd minute, capitalizing on a defensive error to slot the ball home. Vietnam maintained that 1-0 advantage deep into the second half, frustrating the South Koreans with a disciplined and compact defensive shape.

Vietnam’s resistance finally crumbled in the 84th minute when An Sun-hyun rifled a free-kick into the bottom corner to equalize. This triggered a relentless offensive blitz from South Korea that saw Vietnam concede three more times before the final whistle:

• 84th Minute: An Sun-hyun draws level with a powerful free-kick.
• 86th Minute: Nam Ian catches the defense napping to make it 2-1.
• 88th Minute: Ahn Joo-wan fires home a clinical third.
• Stoppage Time: Kim Ji-woo seals the 4-1 rout with a final strike.

Following the match, Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) President Tran Quoc Tuan visited the dressing room to boost player morale. While the result was a painful “valuable lesson” in concentration, the VFF emphasized that the team’s destiny remains in their own hands.

Vietnam is scheduled to face the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on May 14 in their final group stage match. A victory in that fixture would likely secure a place in the quarter-finals—the gateway to qualifying for the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar this November.