Vietnam draw 1-1 with Jordan in Asian Cup qualifier

Striker Nguyen Anh Duc (No.11) celebrates his goal in the 24 th minute of the match (Photo: VFF)

Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam tied Jordan 1-1 in the last group round match of the 2019 Asian Cup qualification on March 27 in Amman city.

The result did not change the position of both sides in Group C as Jordan remained the top team with 12 points and Vietnam second with 10.

Travelling more than 10,000km across several time zones to Amman did not affect Vietnamese player’s physique in the second leg match against tall and husky Jordanian rivals. The Southeast Asian representative even silenced thousands of local fans when they opened the score at the 24th minute.

The visitors’ counter-attack began with mid-fielder Luong Xuan Truong in the central area. The national U23 captain gave the ball to the right wing to winger Pham Xuan Manh, who delivered it past three Jordanian defenders to reach striker Nguyen Anh Duc in the box. The Vietnam 2017 Golden Ball winner Duc made an easy tap-in to defeat captain and goalkeeper Ahmad Nawwas.

It could be a day to remember for Manh as his debut for the national team he made an accurate assist for the opening goal.

Vietnam should have notched a second goal just five minutes later as striker Nguyen Cong Phuong made a long distance finish that beat all Jordanian players and the keeper but was denied by the cross bar.

Vietnam suffered an unexpected change when keeper Dang Van Lam experienced hip pain in the 39th minute and was replaced by Nguyen Tuan Manh.

Jordan opened more attacks, using high ball techniques to maximise the advantage of their height and burly builds. However they failed to break the thick Vietnamese defence who successfully maintained their lead until the end of the first half.

The second half saw the hosts apply heavy pressure. Their consecutive attacks yielded results in the 71st minute when Abu Amara sent the ball to the high corner of keeper Manh to level the score.

Amara and substitute Yaseen Allahham continued to test Manh but the Vietnamese goalie did a good job saving the net.

Both Jordan and Vietnam have qualified for the Cup finals next January in United Arab Emirates.

It will be Vietnam’s second time while Jordan will enjoy their fourth time. In the first time in 2007 Vietnam entered the quarter-finals, Jordan’s best result was also the quarter-finals, which they reached in 2004 and 2011.

In other matches of the group, Jabar Sharza scored twice as Afghanistan closed out their tournament with a 2-1 win over Cambodia on March 27 evening at the Pamir Stadium in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.

Victory ensure Otto Pfister’s team claimed third place in Group C with six points from their six games while Cambodia ended at the bottom of the standings three points behind. - VNA