The two goals were scored by Nguyen Quang Hai and Que Ngoc Hai. With this win, Vietnam had three points after three matches in Group D and are hoping for a berth in the knockout stage of the tournament.

Nguyen Quang Hai celebrated the first goal for Vietnam.

Vietnam played with their familiar 3-4-3 formation and held more possession, up to 64 percent of the time in the first half. In the 13th minute, midfielder Luong Xuan Truong took a corner but it was saved by a Yemeni defender.

Vietnamese goalkeeper Dang Van Lam could not catch the ball from a free kick in the 17th minute. It was lucky for Vietnam as there was no Yemeni player there to get a tap in.

In the 25th minute, Yemeni midfielder Emad Mansoor was injured and subbed out. Two minutes later, Yemen defender Ala Addin Mahdi received a yellow card for a foul.

Vietnam’s Phan Van Duc tried his luck with a shot from the left wing in the 31st minute but the Yemeni goalkeeper saved it.

In the 37th minute, Vietnamese striker Nguyen Cong Phuong was fouled. Yemeni midfielder Al Radaei received a yellow card and a free kick was given to Vietnam.

And midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai scored a beautiful goal for Vietnam from an over-20m free kick in the 39th minute. The first half ended after two additional minutes with Vietnam leading 1-0.

Just five minutes from the start of the second half, Vietnamese goalkeeper Dang Van Lam once again showed off his talent when he saved a header from a corner of Yemen.

Que Ngoc Hai scored the second goal for Vietnam.

In the 53rd minute, Vietnam had their first substitution when Nguyen Tien Linh replaced Luong Xuan Truong. In the 63rd minute, Phan Van Duc was fouled by Al Gumae in the box and Vietnam was awarded a penalty while the Yemeni defender got a yellow card.

The Vietnamese team’s captain Que Ngoc Hai calmly took the penalty and scored the second goal for Vietnam in the 65th minute. 

The game ended 2-0 for Vietnam after three additional minutes. With this win, Vietnam needs to wait for the results of other groups’ matches to know if they can advance to the next round.

No rest for Vietnamese football stars

After an incredible 2018, Vietnam’s footballers are set for another busy year with three key international tournaments. The first is the final round of the Asian Cup which will kick off on January 5 in the United Arab Emirates.

 

First football tourney for disadvantaged children slated for 2019

The first football tournament for disadvantaged children nationwide is set to take place in 2019, heard a press briefing in Hanoi on December 26.

 

Vietnamese outstanding footballers in 2018 honoured

Nguyen Quang Hai and Nguyen Thi Tuyet Dung won the Vietnam Golden Ball award during a ceremony honoring Vietnam’s Best Players in 2018 was held in Ho Chi Minh City on December 22.

 

Prime Minister: Football inspires patriotism, national pride

Football has inspired patriotism and national pride, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said on December 21 when hosting the national football team and head coach Park Hang-seo who have just won the trophy of the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup 2018.

 

Park receives special award at home after success with Vietnamese football

Ahead of the 2018 AFF Cup final return leg this weekend, Vietnam coach Park Hang-seo received good news as he was named among the 12 winners of the “Persons of the Year 2018 Awards” by the Journalists Association of Korea (JAK), at a ceremony held at the Convention Hall of the Kookmin Ilbo building in Yeouido, Seoul, on December 12.

 

Source: VNA