Coach Kim Sang Sik receives extremely positive news from the 1.81m tall striker of the U23 Vietnam team.

Minh Tam shines immediately in his debut match for U23 Vietnam and will be a potential forward for the national team in the future.

On the afternoon of March 25, U23 Vietnam began their opening match at the CFA Team China International Football Tournament – Xi'an 2026, facing U23 North Korea. Against an opponent rated highly for their physical fitness and powerful playing style, the team under Acting Head Coach Dinh Hong Vinh delivered a full-effort performance, but only managed a 1-1 draw after 90 minutes of play.

From the very first minutes, U23 North Korea proactively pushed their formation high, deploying a high-intensity pressing style and continuously applying pressure on U23 Vietnam's half of the field. The East Asian team effectively utilized their robust physical foundation to control the match situation, forcing the players in red to play focused and maintain a reasonable team formation distance.

However, in the first notable attacking situation, U23 Vietnam demonstrated efficiency. In the 6th minute, from a quick advance on the wing, the ball was delivered into the penalty area and Minh Tam handled it neatly before unleashing a precise shot from a narrow angle, opening the score 1-0 for U23 Vietnam.

The early goal helped U23 Vietnam play more confidently, and also held special significance for Minh Tam personally. At 20 years old, this forward is a pillar for HAGL Club and temporarily leads the scoring list for the Mountain City team in V-League 2025–2026 with 3 goals scored.

Scoring a goal immediately in his debut match for U23 Vietnam is a major morale boost for the striker nurtured from Mr. Duc's training academy. Possessing a height of 1.81m and an ideal physique for a center forward position, Minh Tam is evaluated as a modern forward model, capable of operating independently and seizing opportunities well within the penalty area.

Despite being young and lacking extensive international match experience, Minh Tam still showed noteworthy composure. His positioning ability, decisive finishing, and developmental potential make him one of the notable forwards of U23 Vietnam, and simultaneously a promising option for the national team in the near future.

Video: Close-up of the goal by the U23 Vietnam star into the U23 North Korea net.

U23 Vietnam had to face 7 national team players from North Korea.