The Vietnamese fans experienced a tremendous surge of excitement following months of anticipation as their team, nicknamed the “Golden Dragons,” achieved a resounding 4-0 victory in the inaugural match of the Second Round of the 2022 FIFA World Cup – Asian Qualifiers. This momentous event took place at Al Maktoum Stadium in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on June 7.

Midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai (19). Photos: dantri

The goals were scored in the 51st minute by Nguyen Tien Linh, Nguyen Quang Hai in the 62nd minute, Nguyen Cong Phuong in the 67th minute, and Vu Van Thanh in the 74th minute.

Game Summary

The first half of the game ended with a scoreless draw.

The Vietnamese team dominated possession in the second half and launched numerous attacks. They wasted no time in opening the scoring just six minutes after the start of the second half.

Forward Nguyen Tien Linh made an impressive breakthrough in the game as he skillfully received a long pass and outmaneuvered the Indonesian defense before scoring a goal on his second attempt.

In the 62nd minute, Vietnam significantly increased their score with an impressive long-range shot from midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai, netting a goal against Argawinata.

Forward Nguyen Cong Phuong (10).

Within a span of less than three minutes, Vietnam successfully secured their third goal. This noteworthy accomplishment came about when forward Nguyen Cong Phuong artfully tapped in the ball during a corner, which originated from the skilled initiation of midfielder Luong Xuan Truong.

According to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), midfielder Vu Van Thanh displayed exceptional skill as he scored a magnificent left-footed shot from the edge of the area in the 73rd minute. The ball settled into the top corner, adding to his team’s goal tally for the night, making it the fourth goal of the match.

The “Golden Dragons” currently lead Group G with a total of 14 points after six matches, which consist of four victories and two draws. They have two upcoming matches scheduled on June 11 against Malaysia and on June 15 against the host UAE.

According to a report by Indonesian news website Suara.com, the Indonesian national team, also known as the Garuda squad, suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of Vietnam. The Indonesian team faced a 4-0 loss without scoring a single goal. The match was characterized by frequent mistakes made by Indonesian players, with Shin Tae-yong’s players showing a lack of composure and accuracy in their passes, leading to Vietnam’s overwhelming dominance on the field.

The Vietnam-Indonesia match has gained an added level of intrigue as both teams’ head coaches, Park Hang Seo of Vietnam and Shin Tae-yong of Indonesia, have a history of being rivals during their time in the South Korean K League 1.

Forward Nguyen Tien Linh (22) (1st left) after scoring a goal.

The match concluded with a total of six yellow cards being issued to Indonesia’s team, including one to their head coach. Vietnam’s team also experienced the intense nature of the game, resulting in some of their players experiencing physical discomfort. Additionally, Vietnamese player Nguyen Tuan Anh was forced to leave the match at the 35th minute.

During the post-match press conference on June 8, Shin Tae-yong categorically denied allegations of instructing his players to engage in aggressive behavior.

“We do not endorse or promote the use of violent kicks,” Coach Shin stated during a press conference following the match. He acknowledged that there are instances when players may independently choose to kick forcefully like that, but it is not a behavior encouraged by the team.

During the 2019 SEA Games final, Indonesia faced a defeat against Vietnam. Determined not to face another loss against their rivals, Indonesia went into the match with heightened intensity.

Vietnam’s coach, Park Hang Seo, expressed his gratitude to the players for their performance. However, he emphasized that the team still has two important matches ahead, one of which must be won. He also mentioned that the team will not dwell on their recent victory but instead focus on preparing for the next match.

Following the matches held between June 3-8, it has been observed that the national team of Philippines suffered a 0-2 loss against China. Similarly, Singapore faced a heavy defeat of 0-5 against Uzbekistan, while Cambodia had a 1-4 loss against Iraq. Additionally, Thailand had a 1-3 defeat against UAE, and Malaysia faced a 0-4 loss against UAE in their respective matches.