Couldn’t keep the advantage, Vietnam lost for Saudi Arabia
Vietnam took the lead as early as the third minute when Nguyen Quang Hai slotted home from outside the box, but faced the pressing from host Saudi Arabia and had to play with 10 to against 11 in the second half, Vietnam lost 1-3 in the first match of final round FIFA World Cup 2022 Asian Qualifier.
Saudi Arabia vs Vietnam during their Asian Qualifiers Final Round Group B match on September 2, 2021 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Photo by Hamoud Al-Osaimi / Power Sport Images for The AFC
Vietnam’s celebrations of the country’s national day extended into the pitch as they got off to a flying start with talisman Nguyen Quang Hai capitalising on Abdulelah Al Amri’s poor clearance to control the ball 25 yards out and rifle an effort that beat goalkeeper Mohammed Al Owais and nestle into the bottom corner for the first goal of the night inside three minutes.
Saudi Arabia suffered a blow in the 18th minute as midfielder Abdullah Otayf was stretchered off in tears to be replaced by Mohammed Kanno.
Everyone at King Saud University Stadium thought the hosts had found the leveller in the 28th minute as Fahad Al Muwallad broke free following Saleh Al Shehri’s fine threaded pass, rounding the goalkeeper and preparing to fire into the empty net before a heroic Do Duy Manh last-ditch challenge arrived to clear it behind.
Al Muwallad was again sent through on goal with six minutes to go until the break, this time being set up by a Salman Al Faraj pass from the right, and the Ittihad forward attempted a chipped finish but was foiled by goalkeeper Bui Tan Truong.
Five minutes after the restart, Duy Minh’s attempt at another goal-saving tackle backfired as Al Faraj got on the end of a Sultan Al Ghannam cross and looked to apply the finish, but the defender’s sliding challenge saw him handle the ball inside the box, prompting the referee to point to the spot and send Duy Minh off following confirmation from VAR.
Al Dawsari stepped up and converted from the spot to bring Saudi Arabia level.
Halfway through the second period, Saudi Arabia took advantage of their numerical superiority to take the lead for the first time on the night. A well-played string of passes saw the ball fed to Al Ghannam on the flank and the Al Nassr right-back sent a floating cross into the far post for his opposite full-back Yasser Al Shahrani who powered in the header to make it 2-1.
The night went from bad to worse for Vietnam as skipper Que Ngoc Hai brought down Al Dawsari inside the box and Saudi Arabia were awarded a second penalty 10 minutes from time. Al Shehri stepped up and perfectly executed his Panenka, leaving the Vietnamese goalkeeper with no chance to cement the home side’s win.
Saudi Arabia travel to Muscat to face Oman, who had beaten Japan earlier in the day, while Vietnam’s Tuesday fixture sees them welcome an Australia side that had opened their Group A campaign with a comfortable win against China PR.
