Vietnam cruise past China PR for first win
Vietnam secured a historic first-ever victory over China PR as goals from Ho Tan Tai and Nguyen Tien Linh sealed a 3-1 win in Group B of the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar on Tuesday that also ended any slim hopes the Chinese had of finishing third.
02/02/2022 12:02:38
Tan Tai opened the scoring inside 10 minutes at the My Dinh Stadium and Tien Linh had the home support in dreamland by doubling their advantage just seven minutes later. Substitute Phan Van Duc wrapped up a famous win by smashing home a third from distance in the 76th minute before Wu Xi grabbed a consolation for China PR deep into added time.
The victory meant Vietnam also picked up their maiden points in the final round of the AFC Asian Qualifiers, and, while they remain bottom of the standings, the Golden Star Warriors are now just two points adrift of the Chinese with two games to play.
Having lost all seven of their games in Group B, including a last-gasp 3-2 defeat when they played China PR on Matchday Three, Vietnam were looking to finally get off the mark, while the visitors were aiming for their first points under head coach Li Xiaopeng.
Park Hang-seo’s Vietnam got off to the perfect start by going in front in the ninth minute when captain Do Hung Dung clipped in a lovely ball from the left side of the penalty area and right wing-back Tan Tai headed home from six yards for his second goal against the Chinese in the qualifying campaign.
The crowd were on their feet again just six minutes later and Hung Dung was at the heart of it once more. This time on the right, the skipper played a lovely give and go with Pham Tuan Hai before cutting the ball back from the byline for Tien Linh to tap home from just a few yards out.
China PR had their first attempt of any note on goal in the 33rd minute when Wang Shenchao’s deep cross from the left found Wu Lei, but the RCD Espanyol forward was unable to get enough purchase on his header, which was collected comfortably by goalkeeper Tran Nguyen Manh.
The visitors came out with renewed purpose after the interval and substitute Zhang Yuning thought he had pulled one back as he thumped home after being picked out by Wu, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.
Tuan Hai had a sight on goal in the 65th minute although shot tamely at Yan Junling from inside the area, but with a little under 15 minutes remaining the hosts did wrap up the three points.
Nguyen Hoang Duc’s pass found Van Duc just inside the Chinese half and he turned, advanced forward and fired a stunning low left-footed effort from 30 yards that went in off Yan’s right post.
Wu volleyed home an excellent consolation goal in the final minute of stoppage time following Wei Shihao’s cross from the left but it was too little, too late.
With two games left and two points separating the sides ahead of March’s Matchday Nine and Ten fixtures, Vietnam’s aim will be to finish above their neighbours. They next host Oman in Hanoi while China PR take on group leaders Saudi Arabia.
Source: AFC
