Brian Jeffrey
FIFA recently honored the remarkable achievement of Vietnam’s U23 team on the 7th anniversary of their performance in the AFC U23 Asian Cup final held in Changzhou, China—an unforgettable moment cherished by football enthusiasts globally.
On January 27, 2018, U23 Vietnam battled U23 Uzbekistan in the final, with heavy snow blanketing the field. Despite a painful 1-2 defeat after a grueling 120 minutes of gameplay, Vietnamese coach Park Hang Seo’s team won the affection of fans everywhere.
To mark this special day, FIFA World Cup’s official social media shared a post saying, “When someone mentions Changzhou…” along with images featuring the “Golden Star Warriors” in action during the final.
One of the standout moments highlighted was Quang Hai’s breathtaking “Snow Rainbow” free kick that equalized the score to 1-1, paired with defender Do Duy Manh proudly placing the national flag in the snowy field—a testament to national pride.
FIFA also shared more photos of the team celebrating in the wake of Quang Hai’s extraordinary goal, which is often remembered as the tournament’s defining moment, adding, “Seven years since this moment.”
This post evoked nostalgic sentiments, reminiscent of a heartfelt poem by journalist Ha Quang Minh that resonated with many fans:
“When someone mentions Changzhou one day,
That day, snow whitened our hair.
A dozen warriors charged against the storm,
Winning eternal admiration forevermore.”
Quang Hai, Bui Tien Dung, and their teammates created a historic legacy, returning to Vietnam to a hero’s welcome from millions of supporters.
Their impressive performance throughout the tournament left a lasting mark on international media, securing their legacy in the history of Asian football.
