Vietnam vs Japan in the AFC U-19 Championship qualifying round on Sunday. — Photo nld.com.vn

With this draw, Japan also secured a place in the finals as they topped Group J with seven points. While Vietnam also had seven points, they ranked second because of goal difference. Vietnam booked a ticket as they are one of the four best runners-up in the qualifying round.

Besides Vietnam, Laos, Yemen and Uzbekistan will join Uzbekistan in the 2020 Finals as the best runners-up.

Japan took control of the game and had the first look at goal in the fourth minute but Itsuki Someno angled his header wide of the target.

Japan continued to press and created several dangerous situations but they failed to find the net. While Vietnam had the best chance in the second half when Nguyen Duy Triet flashed his header wide off Huynh Cong Den’s cross.

After the match, coach Kageyama Masanaga of Japan highly appreciated Vietnam's playing style.

Masanaga said Vietnam played very well in this match. They were an undefeated team and this was a lesson for our young players.

Masanaga also admitted that coach Philippe Troussier of Việt Nam applied good tactics in this match.

According to Masanaga, Troussier was a good trainer. He knew Japanese football clearly as he coached the Japanese national football team. He also knew Japan's playing style in advance.

While French Troussier said that: “Vietnam will meet many difficulties when they face Japan so I encouraged my players very much in terms of psychology. We only need one point to qualify for the event’s finals. I am satisfied with our result.”

Troussier, 64, was born in Paris, France. During his coaching career, he has led the national teams of Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Qatar and Morocco, but was most successful when guiding South Africa to compete in the 1998 World Cup. Four years later, he strongly impressed by leading Japan through to the World Cup knockout stage for the first time in history.

In June 2018, Troussier inked a contract to work as the technical director of the PVF youth football training centre in the northern province of Hung Yen.

The French strategist hoped that he would lead Vietnam U19s to harvest such success as achieved by Vietnam’s U22, U23 and national teams in recent years.

Vietnam sit second in group stages of AFC U-19 Championship

Despite enjoying back-to-back victories, Vietnam still lags behind Japan in Group J of the AFC U-19 Championship due to an inferior goal difference.

Vietnam thrash Mongolia in opening AFC U-19 Championship qualifier

Vietnam's national U19 football team enjoyed a resounding 3-0 victory over Mongolia in their opening match in the qualifying round for the AFC U-19 Championship on November 6.

VNS