Had a good performance, but Vietnam National team couldn’t create a surprise in the match with Japan team
Even couldn’t create surprise while lost by Japan with a score of 0-1, the performance and effort of Vietnam’s player still deserved a good comment from the spectator.
The game saw fans return to My Dinh Stadium for the first time in the final round of the AFC Asian Qualifiers as the home support looked to inspire Vietnam to their first points of the campaign.
But it was Japan who was in the ascendancy from the off and had an early sight on goal when Takumi Minamino fired over from just inside the box after being teed up by Ao Tanaka from the right.
Minamino then saw his header in the 11th minute easily held by goalkeeper Bui Tan Truong but the forward would turn provider for the Samurai Blue’s opener shortly after.
The Liverpool man broke down the left side before playing a low, left-footed ball across the face of the goal that was turned in by Ito from just a few yards out.
Ito thought he had added his second five minutes before the interval when he burst forward from the Japan half before cutting inside Vu Van Thanh and rifling home an unstoppable effort, only for the goal to be ruled out because Tanaka was in an offside position when Ito struck the ball.
Vietnam sought to get back into the game after the restart but, while they saw more of the ball, struggled to trouble the Japan backline, with Nguyen Phong Hong Duy’s wayward volley over the bar on the hour an indication that it was not their day.
With just a goal in it, the visitors looked to put the game beyond doubt and Wataru Endo came close when his effort from Tanaka’s free-kick was deflected wide for a corner.
Substitute Gaku Shibasaki was next to threaten with 10 minutes to play when his fizzing effort was diverted wide by Bui Tan Truong before the goalkeeper denied the same man from distance just minutes later.
Vietnam’s last sight on goal came with just a minute to play as substitute Luong Xuan Truong fired well over and the visitors held out for the three points.
The victory sees Japan move to within a point of Australia in second place in Group B as they chase a top-two finish that would secure automatic qualification to the 2022 FIFA World Cup, while Vietnam remains bottom of the standings having yet to pick up a point.
Japan will next travel to Muscat to take on Oman on Tuesday, with Vietnam remaining in Hanoi to host group leaders Saudi Arabia.
