Vietnam U23s storm into Round of 16 after second win

Vietnam U23s have made it through to the knockout stage at the 2018 Asian Games with one game in hand after beating Nepal 2-0 in their second Group D match on August 16.

Vietnamese players celebrate after scoring the second goal in their second Group D match against Nepal on August 16. (Photo: vnexpress.net)

Veteran striker Anh Duc put Vietnam ahead with a cunning header in the first half, before Van Duc sealing a second consecutive victory for Park Hang-seo’s side by producing a close-range shot at the far corner after the interval.

Confronted with a lower-rated opponent, Park fielded a starting squad without a number of pillars, including Cong Phuong, Xuan Truong and Van Quyet. However, the mobility and activeness of other attack spearheads, namely Anh Duc and Quang Hai, enabled the “yellow stars” to easily set the pace of the game.

Vietnam put constant pressure on the Nepalese side during the first 30 minutes, with Anh Duc being denied an early opener after eight minutes as his header was stopped right at the goal line by a Nepalese defender.

Anh Duc opens the scoring for Vietnam. (Photo: vnexpress.net)

The Becamex Binh Duong striker continued to test Nepal’s defence a number of times before opening the scoring for Park’s side by firing an unstoppable header from Van Duc’s left-wing pass in the 31st minute.

Inspired by the first-half opener, Vietnam continued to dominate ball possession after the break and constantly kept the ball on Nepal’s field. Meanwhile, Gyotoku Koji’s players were desperate in efforts to tie up the score, with their attacks failing to cross the midfield.

The lopsided game remained unchanged in the remainder of the match, as the Vietnamese side created more opportunities to score, one of which was successfully converted into the second goal for the “yellow stars”.

Van Duc celebrates after scoring the second goal for Park Hang-seo's side. (Photo: vnexpress.net)

After providing an assist for Anh Duc in the first half, Van Duc finally got his name on the scoreboard in the 63th minute by slotting home Anh Duc’s pass from close range, thus wrapping up a convincing 2-0 triumph for Park’s side.

In another match earlier the same day, Japan thrashed Pakistan by four straight goals to join Vietnam on top of Group D with six points and a goal difference of +5. The two teams will meet each other in the last group clash on August 19 to decide the group’s overall winners.

The Group D standings after the match day two on August 16./.

VNF/NDO