'The Killer' 1.81m tall striker shines in debut match for Vietnam U23

Minh Tam scored the sole goal on his debut, assisting Vietnam U23 to a draw against North Korea in the CFA Team China 2026 friendly competition.

Young forward Nguyen Minh Tam became the focal point by scoring the only goal that helped Vietnam U23 draw 1-1 with North Korea U23 in their opening match of the CFA Team China 2026 friendly tournament. The early goal marked an impressive debut for the striker from HAGL.

Just after two acclimatization training sessions in China, Coach Dinh Hong Vinh and his team entered the match with high determination. Vietnam U23 quickly demonstrated initiative and took only about six minutes to score the opening goal. Capitalizing on a defensive error by the opponent, Minh Tam moved intelligently and finished cleanly from a tight angle to put his team ahead.

This goal holds special significance as it is the first time the 2005-born forward has been called up to Vietnam U23. Scoring immediately in his debut not only helped him gain points with the coaching staff but also provided a significant morale boost for the upcoming journey.

At club level, Minh Tam is maintaining stable form for HAGL, having scored 3 goals in 10 appearances in V-League 2025/2026. With a height of 1.81m and agile movement, he is gradually establishing himself as a key figure in the mountain city team's attack, while showing remarkable maturity at age 20.

Not only possessing a goal-scoring instinct, Minh Tam is also highly rated for his speed and positioning ability. Some experts note his playing style shares similarities with former striker Le Cong Vinh – particularly in exploiting space and finishing inside the penalty area. This foundation allows him to continue developing in the future.

The draw against North Korea U23 gives Vietnam U23 a fairly favorable start in the tournament and creates psychological momentum for matches against China U23 and Thailand U23. As Vietnamese football aims to rejuvenate its squad for ASIAD 2026 and beyond, Minh Tam's brilliance brings high hopes for a promising next generation.