AFC U23 Asian Cup Group A: Kyrgyz Republic 1-2 Vietnam

The victory means 2018 runners-up Vietnam – who moved up to six points – are in pole position to advance to the quarter-finals after Jordan defeated Saudi Arabia 3-2 in the later match. Vietnam will meet the hosts in their concluding group tie on Monday.

Kyrgyz Republic went into aggressive mode from the opening whistle, keeping Vietnam on the back foot with two penalty appeals for challenges on Kimi Merk and Beknaz Almazbekov waved away by referee Payam Heidari.

Vietnam overcame their early jitters and began to impose their game on Kyrgyz Republic, culminating in a 19th minute opener when Khuat Van Khang converted his spot-kick after Bakytbek Mirzalim Uluu was penalised for a heavy challenge on Nguyen Le Phat.

The goal opened the game up with chances coming at both ends but efforts from Marlen Murzakhmatov, Yryskeldi Madanov and Nguyen Xuan Bac lacked the accuracy to trouble either goalkeeper.

Krygyz Republic, however, drew level in stunning fashion when Murzakhmatov was allowed too much time and space as he surged forward unchallenged in the 44th minute before rifling an unstoppable shot past Tran Trung Kien.

The opening period of the second half was a more tense affair and with neither side able to impose themselves, Edmar Lacerda and Kim Sang-sik looked towards their respective benches for reinforcements just after the hour mark.

Lacerda sent on Erbol Abduzhaparov and Nurbol Baktybekov while Kim made a triple change, with Nguyen Dinh Bac, Nguyen Thai Quoc Cuong and Le Van Thuan freshening up the attack.

The changes paid off for Vietnam in the 87th minute when Van Thuan’s diving header bounced off the unlucky Khristiian Brauzman to land in the net to seal a second successive win for the Southeast Asian side.