VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam have twice taken part in the final round of the AFC Asian Cup – in 2007 and 2019. Although the two cup performances are separated by more than a decade, they share a number of striking similarities.

Youngest team

At this year’s Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates, Vietnam’s head coach Park Hang-seo brought the youngest squad out of all 24 teams, with an average age of just 23.1.

Striker Le Cong Vinh (top) and midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai had spectacular goals for Vietnam in the Asian Cup 12 years apart. — Photo goal.com

Twelve years ago at the event in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, Vietnam’s 23 players had an average age of 23.3, again the youngest team in the tournament.

Facing Western Asian teams

In 2007, Vietnam faced three teams from Western Asia: UAE, Qatar and Iraq. This year, Vietnam met four: Iraq, Iran, Yemen and Jordan.

Beating one of them 2-0 in the group stage

In both Asian Cups, Vietnam grabbed a 2-0 win against a Western Asian team in the group stage.

In 2007, under the guidance of Coach Alfred Riedl, the team defeated the UAE 2-0. This year, Vietnam beat Yemen by the same score.

The two wins were important steps to bring Vietnam into the next round.

Scoring four goals in qualification

Vietnam scored a total of four goals in the qualifying round of both events. But the similarities go even deeper. In each event, one goal was scored by a defender and one was an own goal by a rival.

Goal scorers for the ‘Golden Stars’ in this year’s event were striker Nguyen Cong Phuong, midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai and defender Que Ngoc Hai. The own goal was down to a mistake by Iraq’s captain, midfielder Ali Faez.

Twelve years ago, defender Huynh Quang Thanh and strikers Le Cong Vinh and Phan Thanh Binh scored for Vietnam. The own goal was by defender Keita Suzuki of Japan.

Conceding seven goals

Goalkeeper Duong Hong Son picked the ball out of the Vietnamese goal seven times at the Asian Cup in 2007, conceding five goals in the qualifying round and two in the quarter-finals.

Both Duong Hong Son (top) and Dang Van Lam proved their skills in the continental event despite conceding seven goals. — Photo goal.com

This year, goalie Dang Van Lam also conceded seven times: five in qualification, one in the first knock-out round and one in quarter-finals.

Falling to the eventual victors in the quarter-finals?

In 2007, Iraq beat Vietnam 2-0 in the quarter-finals. Iraq continued on to win, beating South Korea and Saudi Arabia to take the Asian Cup trophy for the first time.

Everything looks set for a similar outcome this year. After beating Vietnam 1-0 in the quarter-finals, Japan crushed Iran 3-0 in the semi-finals to enter the final Qatar this Friday. Japan are favourites to lift the AFC Asian Cup trophy for a fifth time. 

As well as forming a crucial part of their respective defensive lines, both Huynh Quang Thanh (top left) and Que Ngoc Hai got their names on the scoresheet to help Vietnam advance in the Asian Cup. — Photo goal.com

Source: VNS