North Korea U20 opened their AFC Under-20 Championship campaign with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Vietnam at the Group Stage-1 fixture on 31 August 2026. The visitors took control almost immediately after the break, firing three goals before Vietnam could respond. Kim Yu-Jin provided the spark with two strikes, while Ri Hyok-Gwang found the net once in between.
The opening goal came in the forty-sixth minute when Kim Yu-Jin crossed the line for his side. To be fair, Vietnam had not yet settled into their rhythm, and the break gave North Korea time to impose themselves. The home side appeared sluggish in the first half, and that unease carried over into the second period.
Ri Hyok-Gwang doubled the advantage four minutes later, putting the visitors two goals ahead. By then, Vietnam were second to everything and the scoreboard reflected the imbalance. The hosts could not raise the tempo when they needed to, and the gap widened further in the fifty-eighth minute.
Kim Yu-Jin completed his brace to seal the result, finishing with a brace that left Vietnam exposed. The two goals came in quick succession, and the match was effectively decided within twelve minutes. North Korea showed they could punish their opponents from open play, and Vietnam's defence offered little resistance.
The result ends a mixed run for Vietnam, who had won three of their previous five matches but lost their last outing 1-0 to Syria U20. North Korea arrive with mixed form as well — two losses and a draw in their last three fixtures before this victory. The win gives them momentum at this stage, while Vietnam must regroup quickly.
The three points open the group for North Korea, and Vietnam will need to find their level if they are to remain competitive. Cup football has its own rules, and this was a statement from the visitors. The scoreline tells you everything you need to know about who controlled the encounter.