After their opening 1 - 1 draw against Iran two days earlier, the Vietnamese team set a three-point target for the clash against Lebanon in order to foster hopes of advancing to the final competition, to be hosted in Thailand.
The match started at a lightning pace thanks to strong determination from both sides. Captain Nguyen Thi Tuyet Ngan affirmed Vietnam’s ambition by getting on the score-sheet after 15 minutes with an accurate finish from outside the box.
The early goal gave the Vietnamese side’s confidence a strong boost, inspiring them to produce a constant threat on the Lebanese goal.
The host team needed 12 more minutes to double their advantage, as defender Pham Thi Lan Anh converted a corner kick from Tran Thi Thu Xuan with an unstoppable header.
After the break, Vietnamese players continued to put pressure on their opponents seeking to widen the score, but faced a lot of difficulties posed by the Lebanese defensive line’s physical superiority and readiness to challenge.
In a counterattack six minutes after the hour mark, forward Y. Bou Rada utilised a Vietnamese defensive mistake to pull a goal back for Lebanon.
With time running out, the Vietnamese side created a number of scoring opportunities, but proved unlucky as their final attempts constantly hit the woodwork.
It was not until the 85th minute that Tuyet Ngan restored the two-goal lead for the hosts with a subtle finish, before substitute Ngo Thi Hong Nhung wrapped up Vietnam’s rally with the fourth goal in stoppage time.
With the 4 - 1 victory, the Vietnamese team temporarily climbed to second in Group B with four points, two behind the Republic of Korea and three above third-placed Iran.
Vietnam will play their last qualifying match with the Republic of Korea at 7pm on April 30, in which they will only need a draw to make it through to the final competition of the 2019 AFC U-19 Women’s Championship.
Source: VNA