Vietnamese defender Nguyen Trong Hoang (Number 8) received the match’s first yellow card just after the whistle for tacking Ali Adnan of Iraq.

Nguyen Cong Phuong scores the second goal for Vietnam.

In the 20th minute, midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai (Number 19) received a tap in from Nguyen Cong Phuong (Number 10) but it went too strong he failed to take a volley.

Four minutes later, under pressure of Vietnam’s attacks, Iraqi defender Ali Faez Atia scored an own goal, opening the score for Vietnam. However, Iraq equalised the score in the 35th minute through a goal of striker Muhanad Ali.

Cong Phuong restored the lead for the Southeast Asian team in the 42nd with a tap-in after a rebound from Trong Hoang's right-winged shot. The first half ended after three added minutes with Vietnam leading 2-1.

At the start of the second half, Do Duy Manh (Number 2) received a yellow card for trying to block an Iraqi player. For the second time, Iraq leveled the score in the 59th minute with a goal by Humam Tariq.

Afterward, Vietnam made two consecutive player substitutions. Ha Duc Chinh (Number 18) replaced Cong Phuong while Luong Xuan Truong (Number 6) was subbed out for Nguyen Huy Hung (Number 7).

In the 72nd minute, Quang Hai made a shot outside the goal area but it was stopped by the Iraqi goalie. Vietnam made their last player change 10 minutes later as Doan Van Hau (Number 5) came on for the team and Phan Van Duc (Number 20) was taken off.

Vietnamese players celebrate their first goal.

Following a fault of Vietnamese defenders, Ali Adnan scored with a free kick in the last official minute of the match, settling a 3-2 lead for Iraq. 

Approximately 1,000 Vietnamese fans traveled to Abu Dhabi to cheer for the team in red. Vietnam are world No 100, 12 steps lower than Iraq. This was the second time the Vietnamese team has played in the tournament compared to eight for the Iraqis.

Vietnam are pooled with Iran, Iraq and Yemen in Group D of the AFC Asian Cup 2019. After playing Iraq, the team will face Asian heavyweights Iran on January 12 before wrapping up their group stage journey with a match against Yemen on January 16.

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.

 

AFF Cup: Vietnam Airlines increases over 3,700 seats for football fans

National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines will put into action an extra 3,700 seats on 14 flights between Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi to serve southern football fans who want to cheer the national team at the final match of the AFF Suzuki Cup 2018.

 

Midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai nominated for Asia’s best footballer award

Midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai is the only footballer from Vietnam to be nominated for the Best Footballer of Asia Award by Titan Sports and Fox Sports Asia.

 

PM sends letter to football team ahead of AFF Cup finals

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on December 8 sent a letter to encourage the national football team before their participation in the final first leg against Malaysia in the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup 2018.

 

National men’s football team enters FIFA’s top 100

Vietnam’s national men’s football team has climbed two spots to find itself on the list of world’s top 100 for this month, according to the latest International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA) rankings released on November 29.

 

Source: VNA.