The win leaves coach Kim Sang-sik’s side on the brink of qualification, having collected maximum points from their opening two matches.
Vietnam entered the game with confidence following a 2-0 win over U23 Jordan, while Kyrgyzstan were under pressure after a narrow opening defeat to hosts U23 Saudi Arabia.
That urgency was evident early on, as the Central Asian side pressed aggressively and registered five shots within the first 15 minutes, unsettling the Vietnamese defence.
Vietnam struggled to establish attacking rhythm in the opening phase, particularly with Đình Bắc starting on the bench, limiting pace and physical presence up front.
However, the momentum shifted in the 17th minute when a Kyrgyz defender fouled Lê Phát during Vietnam’s first corner. Captain Văn Khang converted the resulting penalty with composure, sending goalkeeper Nurlanbekov the wrong way to give Vietnam a 1-0 lead.
The goal underlined Vietnam’s strength from set pieces, having also scored twice from corners against Jordan, and helped settle the team. Their attacks became more fluid, placing the Kyrgyz goal under sustained pressure.
Just before half-time, however, a costly error restored parity. In the 44th minute, Hiểu Minh misplayed a pass straight to Murzakhmatov, who struck powerfully from outside the box to level the score at 1-1.
Rather than settling for a draw, Kim Sang-sik urged his players to adopt a more proactive approach after the break. Vietnam increased attacking intensity, with Lê Phát and Thái Sơn testing the goalkeeper, though without the finishing precision required.
From the 63rd minute, the Korean coach introduced attacking reinforcements, including Đình Bắc, Quốc Cường and Văn Thuận, signalling clear intent to claim all three points. The substitutes added pace and movement, stretching the Kyrgyz defence and sustaining pressure late into the match.
The breakthrough arrived in the 87th minute. Another corner saw Lý Đức deliver an inviting cross to Văn Thuận, whose header deflected off a defender and rolled into the net, sealing a deserved 2-1 victory.
With two wins from two matches, U23 Vietnam are now firmly positioned to advance to the quarterfinals.