Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc sent a congratulatory letter to the country’s under-23 football team on Wednesday, lauding them for making history as the first-ever Vietnamese team to qualify for a quarterfinal spot at the U-23 Asian Cup.

Vietnam and Syria settled for a goalless draw in their last Group D game at the 2018 AFC U-23 Championship in China on Wednesday, sending the Golden Starts to a quarterfinal match against Iraq later this week.

“[Your qualifying to the knockout stage] brings about pride for the nation and supporters countrywide. It illustrates the strong spirit and will of the young Vietnamese generation,” PM Phuc said in a letter sent to the team on Wednesday.

The premier expressed his pleasure after being briefed on the “good news from the AFC U-23 Championship, where our U-23 team performed brilliantly in all three group stage games to advance for the first time into the event’s quarterfinals.”

Vietnam's coach Park Hang-seo reacts after their 0-0 draw against with Syria at the 2018 AFC U-23 Championship in China on January 17, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

PM Phuc also extended his praise to the team’s head coach, South Korean Park Hang-seo, a new hire who only began working with the team in October of last year.

“On behalf of the government, I congratulate and commend the U-23 team, particularly coach Park Hang-seo, and hope that you will continue to play with high spirits and win more trophies for Vietnam,” the premier said.

Vietnam started the journey in China with a 1-2 loss to South Korea before stunning Australia 1-0 and drawing Syria, advancing to the knockout stage as the Group D runners-up, second to the Koreans.

The Golden Stars will be challenged by Iraq this Saturday.

The AFC Under-23 Championship, held from January 9 to 27, is a biennial competition featuring 16 of Asia’s top teams in the age group.

Japan beat South Korea to win the championship at the 2016 edition in Qatar.