AFC U23 Asian Cup Q-final: Vietnam edge UAE in thriller to advance
Jeddah: It was a case of third time lucky as Vietnam survived a stiff test to stay in the hunt for the title with a 3-2 extra-time win against United Arab Emirates in their AFC U23 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026™ quarter-final on Friday.
A valiant UAE fought back to level twice but the tie was finally settled by Pham Minh Phuc to set Vietnam up for a semi-final meeting with either Uzbekistan or China PR on Tuesday, the Southeast Asian side’s first appearance at the last four stage since their runners-up finish in 2018.
After a cagey start, UAE thought they had opened the scoring in the 16th minute when Yousif Al Marzooqi’s long ball forward was controlled by Mansoor Al Menhali before volleying past Tran Trung Kien but the effort was ruled out for handball.
UAE went close again in the 35th minute when Al Menhali’s cross found Ali Al Memari at the back post but the latter sent his stooping header wide from close range with Vietnam then forced to make an early change after Le Viktor suffered a knock from a heavy challenge and was replaced by Nguyen Dinh Bac.
The woodwork denied UAE three minutes later after more good work from Al Menhali, who pounced on Pham Ly Duc’s mistake before laying the ball off for Ali Abdulaziz to take a crack from distance, with his effort clipping the top of the bar on the way over.
The misses came back to haunt UAE as Vietnam got the breakthrough in the next minute, Dinh Bac twisted and turned Khamis Al Mansoori before firing a low cross into the six-yard box for Nguyen Le Phat to tap home.
It turned out to be a short-lived lead as UAE finally showed their clinical side to draw level in the 42nd minute when Junior Ndiaye nodded in from close range after Al Memari’s initial header had bounced off the top of the bar.
With everything to play for, both sides went in search of a second goal as action swung from end to end with half chances but the game turned in favour of Vietnam two minutes after the hour mark.
Pham Minh Phuc delivered an inswinging cross from the right which found Dinh Bac, who backheaded the ball perfectly into the far corner beyond UAE custodian Khaled Tawhid.
UAE responded with a stunning headed goal of their own in the 68th minute, Al Menhali powering the ball past Tran from Richard Akonnor’s cross to pull the West Asians level for the second time.
Vietnam upped their tempo but spurned chances to win the tie in the dying minutes of regulation time with Vo Anh Quan’s downward header saved by Tawhid before Nguyen Thanh Nhan steered wide from close range as the match went into extra time.
Vietnam, however, got it right at the third time of trying when Thanh Nhan’s waltz into the box in the 101st minute was stopped but the ball rolled to Minh Phuc who composed himself before blasting past Tawhid to send his side into the semi-finals.
