Vietnam score first victory in World Cup qualification final round

Vietnam brought a solid performance against their stronger opponents, treating thousands of cheering fans in My Dinh Stadium with a nice Lunar New Year gift.

They opened the score in the ninth minute after captain Do Hung Dung set up Ho Tan Tai for a header with a pinpoint cross from the left flank.

Dung made another great assist seven minutes later, helping Nguyen Tien Linh score Vietnam’s second goal from the right flank.

Phan Van Duc made it 3-0 for Vietnam in the 76th minute with a long-distance shot. The ball hit the ground, the post and then the net, leaving keeper Yan Junling no chance.

China had several attacks but none were too difficult for keeper Tran Nguyen Manh.

Manh was in pain and he was replaced by Bui Tan Truong in the 85th minute. 12 minutes later, China got one back as Xu Xin scored from a tap-in, right before the final whistle.

The victory was Vietnam’s first ever against China. It also earned them the first three points in the final round of 2022 World Cup qualifiers. They had lost all the previous seven games, including a 2-3 loss in the away game with China.

Both Vietnam and China’s doors to the World Cup finals have been closed.

Vietnam still have Oman and Japan matches in March.