Asian media run articles spotlighting the Vietnam Olympic team’s August 23 historic victory against the Bahrain team to earn a berth in the quarter-finals of the Asian Games (ASIAD) 2018 held in Indonesia.

The goal, described as “more valuable than gold” by many fans and commentators, was scored by Nguyen Cong Phuong, wearing jersey number 9, at the 88th minute.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) updated the result of the match right after it finished. In an article titled “Late strike makes Vietnam through” posted on its website www.the-afc.com, the confederation affirmed that the team “delivered a lethal blow through substitute Nguyen Cong Phuong’s fine strike in the 88th minute to seal a hard-fought victory”.

The Asian version of Fox Sports, www.foxsportsasia.com, described striker Cong Phuong as the brightest star of the match with his 88th-minute goal through the article titled “Asian Games 2018: Cong Phuong the hero as Vietnam see off plucky Bahrain”. 

Meanwhile, Bola, a sports newspaper of host Indonesia, devotes its admire to goalkeeper Bui Tien Dung who successfully blocked a dangerous shot by striker Mohammed Marhoon.

Meanwhile, the Republic of Korea’s Chosun Ilbo newspaper compared the Vietnamese team’s coach Park Hang-seo, a Korean national, as “Magician Hiddink” who led the RoK to the World Cup 2002 semi-finals. At that time, Park served as an assistant to the Dutch coach. The newspaper affirmed that Vietnam’s victory was persuasive as the red team controlled most of the match.

With this triumph, Vietnam will face Syria in the quarter-finals on August 27.-VNA