Vietnam out of U23 Asian Cup after losing to Saudi Arabia (Photo: VNA) Gong Oh-kyun's team surprised many by having more chances than their opponent,most notably with Le Minh Binh's long range effort that hit the woodwork.
A distracted Vietnamese defence gave away the opening goal to Moteb Al-Harbijust before the break, and Firas Al-Buraikan doubled The Green Falcons' lead inthe 65th minute. Vietnam were later down to ten men after goalkeeper Quan VanChuan was shown the red card.
Coach Gong again heavily rotated the squad, replacing all five midfielders whostarted the match against Malaysia. In the starting line-up, six players areunder the age of 21, and can participate in the next edition of the cup.
The golden star warriors, like most of their matches before in this tournament,made some high pressing plays in the opening minutes of the match, searchingfor an early opener.
Binh had the first chance in the second minute, when Khuat Van Khang's crossfrom the left wing met him at the far post. The midfielder's header was tameand clutched easily by keeper Nawaf Al-Aqidi.
In the 25th minute, a great pass from Vu Tien Long found Khang, who reboundedthe ball for Nham Manh Dung to fire from just outside the box but his effortwas just wide of the post.
Khang was instrumental in Vietnam's play, as the midfielder participated in alltheir good chances in the first half. His effort in the 35th minute createdspace for Binh to shoot from range, but Al-Aqidi was able to get his hand to itand tipped the ball over the bar to Binh's sheer disbelief.
Only six minutes later, a distraction caused by Al-Buraikan's injury in Vietnam'sbox allowed fullback Al-Harbi to puncture the Vietnamese defence and shoot inat the far post for Saudi Arabia's opening goal. Although having less shots ontarget, the men in white got the only goal of the first half delivering amental blow to Vietnam going into the break.
Vietnam had to go all-out attack in the second half searching for theequaliser, but Saudi Arabia kept their cool and patiently waited for theirchance. In the 65th minute, it was Al-Harbi again who crossed to an unmarkedAl-Buraikan inside the box who made it 2-0.
The men in red could not get a shot at Al-Aqidi's goal in the second half, asthe methodical Saudis kept possession and did not allow Vietnam to play,despite Coach Gong bringing on more attackers.
In the 78th minute, keeper Quan Van Chuan, who had been Vietnam's herothroughout the tournament, went out of his box to clear the ball, but fouledAl-Buraikan in the process. The Japanese referee brandished a red card straightaway, and although VAR intervened because Chuan seemed get to to the ballfirst, the decision was not overturned.
As Vietnam have used up all of their substitutions, striker Nham Manh Dung wasforced to play as goalkeeper in the last ten minutes. Dung surprisingly kept aclean sheet in the remaining part of the game and the match ended 2-0 to SaudiArabia.
With this result, Vietnam are out of the AFC U23 Asian Cup at the quarter-finalstage, still their second-best result ever in the tournament. Saudi Arabia willface Australia on June 15 in the semis.
Vietnam under-23s and Coach Gong will return to action in 2023 at the 32nd SEAGames in Cambodia, as the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China was postponed toan unknown date.
Although they cannot equal 2018's miraculous run by their senior squad, Vietnam'sdisplay at this tournament showed great progress and a modern, different styleof play that is needed for Vietnamese football to further progresscontinentally./.
VNA
