September 03, 2021 | 18:12 (GMT+7)
Vietnam lose 1-3 to Saudi Arabia in World Cup qualifiers
Vietnam scored in the first minutes of the match but were defeated eventually after playing most of the second half with one man down.
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Vietnam lose 1-3 to Saudi Arabia in World Cup qualifiers. |
Midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai made a sumptuous goal in the third minute, opening the scoreboard. Vietnam showed their good control of the game in the first half.
In the second half, after a lengthy VAR review, defender Do Duy Manh was adjudged to have handled the ball in his own penalty area when blocking a shot from Saudi captain Salman Al-Faraj.
The decision turned the game on its head, as Manh received his second yellow card and Vietnam found themselves a man down and on level terms after Salem Al-Dawsari slotted home the penalty.
Down to 10 men, Vietnam rushed to strengthen their defense. Yet they suffered the second goal as Yasir Al-Shahrani scored from a header in the 67th minute.
The hosts were awarded the second penalty in the game after Que Ngoc Hai made a wrong tackle inside the box. Saleh Al-Shehri raised the scored to 3-1 in the 79th minute.
This is Vietnam's first ever game in the final round of World Cup qualification.
They next face Australia at home in Hanoi on September 7.
Source: VNA