Bangladesh under-23 national team’s quest for a first-ever berth in the AFC U-23 Asian Cup got off to a disappointing start as they slumped to a 2-0 defeat against hosts Vietnam in their Group C opener on Wednesday at the Viet Tri Stadium.

Earlier in the day, Yemen edged past Singapore 2-1 at the same venue in the other Group C fixture.

Against the red-and-green side, Vietnam seized control early and dominated the opening half-hour. In the 10th minute, midfielder Nguyen Phi Hoang rattled the crossbar with a fierce strike from the edge of the area. Five minutes later, he turned provider, setting up striker Nguyen Ngoc My, who broke through the right flank and slotted home with a clinical angled finish past Bangladesh goalkeeper Mehedi Hasan Srabon.

Vietnam continued to press, but missed chances to extend their lead, while Bangladesh managed a handful of opportunities. Captain Sheikh Morsalin tested goalkeeper Tran Trung Kien from a free kick in the 35th minute, before delivering a dangerous set piece four minutes later that was cleared by the Vietnamese defence. Just before halftime, forward Al Amin squandered the visitors’ best chance of the half, sending a tame shot straight at the keeper after being played through by Mojibur Rahman Jony.

Trailing 1-0 at the break, assistant coach Hassan Al Mamun – who led the dugout in absence of the ailing head coach Saiful Bari Titu – introduced Mirazul Islam and Piash Nova to add attacking spark. But Vietnam tightened their grip after the restart. Srabon was forced into a string of outstanding saves, first denying Nhat Minh from distance in the 63rd minute and then stopping his header from a corner a minute later. In the 77th minute, Vietnam were denied again by the woodwork when Le Viktor’s strike rattled the bar.

However, the pressure told in the 83rd minute. From a corner, Viktor finally broke through, heading home from close range to double Vietnam’s lead. In stoppage time, Phi Hoang hit the bar once more, but the hosts comfortably secured a 2-0 victory.

“Vietnam are a strong side. We tried to use a mid-block based on our strengths, but they didn’t allow us to execute our plans. Our buildup didn’t reach our two No.10s, and our crosses failed to finish attacks,” assistant coach Hassan Al Mamun said in a video message provided by the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) after the match. “Now, we must win the next two matches to stay in the tournament. We’ll focus on the important Yemen game, and the boys need proper recovery. The coaching staff is motivating them, and with Fahamedul arriving, we hope to have a boost in the next match.”

Bangladesh will face Yemen in their next fixture on Saturday, hoping to revive their campaign after a frustrating start.