Viet Nam U23 team are already champions in hearts and minds of Vietnamese people

VGP – Despite losing to Uzbekistan in the final match, Viet Nam U23 team are already the champions in the hearts and minds of the Vietnamese people.

January 27, 2018 1:40 PM GMT+7

The referee blows the final whistle to end the match. Viet Nam 1 and Uzbekistan 2.

120'

Goal for Uzbekistan. Andrey Sidorov (Uzbekistan U23) left footed shot from the center of the box to the high center of the goal. Assisted by Dostonbek Khamdamov with a cross following a corner.

119'

Uzbekistan sends a long ball into the box but is relieved by a Vietnamese fullback

118'

Substitution for Uzbekistan. Andrey Sidorov replaces Javokhir Sidikov.

116'

Duc Chinh from Viet Nam lies on the pitch. Free kick for Viet Nam. Dinh Trong sends a long ball upfield

114'

Great atmostphere in Hoang Mai district, Ha Noi

Corner kick for Uzbekistan, cleared by Viet Nam and Viet Nam counterattack. Duc Chinh makes a header but not successful

114'

Goal kick for Uzbekistan

113'

Viet Nam attack and Tien Dung from Viet Nam is fouled by a player from Uzbekistan

111'

Corner kick for Uzbekistan

Yellow card shown for players of both Viet Nam and Uzbekistan

109'

Viet Nam attack on the left side but Duc Chinh is blocked by a player from Uzbekistan

109'

Phan Van Duc from Viet Nam replaced by Nguyen Phong Hong Duy. Duy plays behind striker Duc Chinh

106'

Our team are calm and they are supported by Vietnamese fans on the stands

Viet Nam have had 31.3% of ball possession

104'

Viet Nam's goalkeeper catches the ball after a player from Uzbekistan sends a cross in the box

The pitch is both green and white as snow is still falling

103'

Substitution for Uzbekistan, a striker comes in

101'

Tien Dung from Viet Nam gots a yellow card

100'

Viet Nam attack again but Phan Van Duc makes a hasty shot

98'

Viet Nam counterattack and Quang Hai is fouled. Viet Nam get a free kick about more than 30 meters from Uzbekistan's goalkeeper.

97'

Good save from Viet Nam's goalkeeper Tien Dung as he stays focused

96'

The referee asks fullback Tien Dung from Viet Nam to go out of the pitch as we see blood on his face

94'

Corner kick for Uzbekistan and goalkeeper Tien Dung misses the ball

93'

Viet Nam attack on the left side but striker Duc Chinh from commits a foul in the box

91'

Goal kick for Viet Nam after a player from Uzbekistan commits a foul just outside the box

Extra time starts

The heatmap of the match. Source: AFC

The referee blows the whislte and the two teams will play extra time.

This is the third consecutive match that Viet Nam have played in this year's tournament.

90 1'

A player from Uzbekistan commits a foul to a Vietnamese player.

The fourth officla shows there are two minutes to be added

90'

Viet Nam play quite low

88'

Left winger Van Thanh from Viet Nam asks for changing ball.

Xuan Truong from Viet Nam makes a pass to striker Duc Chinh but the pass is blocked by Uzbekistan's fullback

People celebrate the moment when Quang Hai scores the equalizer

87'

Goalkeeper Tien Dung from Viet Nam catches the ball after a shot from Uzbekistan

82'

Luckily, Uzbekistan's player shot wide

81'

Viet Nam take a throw-in in Viet Nam's half

78'

Striker Cong Phuong from Viet Nam replaced by midfielder Tiến Dụng, elder brother of goalkeeper Tiến Dũng

76'

Uzbekistan counterattack and corner kick for Uzbekistan. Good save from Viet Nam's goalkeeper. Goal kick for Viet Nam

The Vietnamese team are maintaining strong mentality with the formation of 5-3-2

72'

Quang Hai from Viet Nam is fouled and Xuan Truong directs the ball into the box but Uzbekistan's goalkeeper catches the ball

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and Vice Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung and staff of the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry are watching the team in Ha Noi

70'

Uzbekistand attacks on Viet Nam's half but a defender from Viet Nam clears the pressure

The referee is doing his job quite well

68'

Great noise from Vietnamese fans at the stadium

68'

The referee stops the match for a while so that players could have drinks

67'

Free kick for Viet Nam following foul by Uzbekistan's player against Cong Phuong

65'

Commentator on the Viet Nam National Television praises effort by left winger Van Thanh to intercept attack from Uzbekistan

62'

Viet Nam attack on the leftside.

61'

Attempt missed. Van Duc (from Viet Nam) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right following a set piece situation.

58'

Midfielder Duc Huy from Viet Nam replaced by striker Duc Chinh, a surprised decision.

Viet Nam have had 30.8% of ball possession

Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue, who is leading a delegation on Europe tour, shows support for the national team from Portugal.

54'

Good save from Viet Nam's goalkeeper Tien Dung

53'

Corner kick for Uzbekistan

51'

Dangerously, Uzbekistan attack on the left but Duy Manh from Viet Nam is fouled and free kick for Viet Nam50'

The pitch is now "greener" than the first half.

Uzbekistan attack and Tien Dung from Viet Nam's goalkeeper could not catch the ball as it is wet

47'

Free kick for Viet Nam, goalkeeper sends a long ball upfield

46'

The second half is underway

We would like to remind you that a grand ceremony will be held on Sunday to welcome the return of Viet Nam U23 team.

Workers are making great efforts to clear snow to serve the second half.

The referee blows the whistle and the first half ends.

Look at what Vietnamese are doing during the first half

A woman in Viet Nam bursts into tears after Quang Hai scores a wonderful goal

Thousands of Vietnamese people are watching the national team in Viet Nam

Fans raise hands to show support for the national team

A couple combine for a hand heart

Foreigners are watching our team in Ho Chi Minh

******

45 3

Viet Nam attack on the left

The fourth official shows there are 4 minutes to be added

Quang Hai scores a wonderful goal.

41'

GOAL..... Quang Hai scores. This is the 5th goal from Quang Hai in 6 appearances. Quang Hai has a left footed shot to the top left corner. No chance for Uzbekistan's goalkeeper to block.

40'

Free kick for Viet Nam. Cong Phuong is fouled.

It is quite pity that the weather condition is two bad.

37'

Uzbekistan take a throw-in in Viet Nam's half

35'

The referee shows the second yellow card for Uzbekistan

32'

Viet Nam is attacking upfield and Viet Nam get a corner. Xuan Truong directs the ball into the box and Uzbekistan clears. Another corner for Viet Nam but goalkeeper from Uzbekistan clears.

29'

Uzbekistan commits foul. Vienamese spectators shout "Viet Nam" clamorously on the stands.

28'

Viet Nam attack on the left. Xuan Truong sends a long ball into the box but Cong Phuong can not reach the ball

25'

Game restarted.

Vietnamese fans with national flag at the stadium to support the national team

23'

Referee stops the game for efforts to clear snow. Heavy snow is recorded.

It is the first time our national team play on such conditions.

22'

Viet Nam's fullbacks play high on the pitch

20'

Xuan Truong from Vie Nam sends a long ball to forward Cong Phuong

19'

Goalkeeper Tien Dung could not catch the ball but luckily, his teamate clears pressure

18'

Uzbekistan attack from the left and intercepted by Tien Dung from Viet Nam.

15'

Quang Hai from Viet Nam makes a header following the midfielder Xuan Truong's pass

13'

Corner for Uzbekistan and cleared by Viet Nam.

13'

Viet Nam's goalkeeper Tien Dung sends the ball upfield

10'

Yellow card for Uzbekistan's Jasurbek Yakhshiboev for bad foul and free kick for Viet Nam. Xuan Truong sends the ball toward the box.

Goal for Uzbekistan following a corner. This is the third game Viet Nam came behind

The referee signals a free kick for Uzbekistan

Corner kick for Uzbekistan but Viet Nam clear pressure

Uzbekistan commits foul to Viet Nam

Uzbekistan kick off and the game under way. The two teams playing on snow

16h

Referee Ahmed Al-Kaf from Oman starts the match

Vietnamese players warm up on the pitch

National Anthem of Uzbekistan underway.

National Anthem of Viet Nam underway.

Thousands of Vietnamese fans have arrived in China to see the match.

Snow is falling on the pitch

Players of the two teams are warming up.

The starting line-ups of Viet Nam and Uzbekistan

******

A fan standing outside the National Stadium My Dinh in Ha Noi. Photo: VNExpress

The National Stadium in the capital city of Ha Noi opened since 12AM for fans to show strong support for the national team who has made incredible success in the tournament.

Whatever the outcome will be, the team and head coach Park Hang Seo are already the heroes. A big ceremony will be held on Sunday to welcome the return of our football team.

Streets around Sword Lake in central Ha Noi are packed with fans. Photo: VNExpress

In group stage, Viet Nam opened the tournament with a 2-1 defeat to the Republic of Korea and won 1-0 against Australia before ending up with a 0-0 draw against Syria, securing the second place with four points in the group D.

Viet Nam continued excellent form in the quarter-final fixture agianst Iraq with a 5-3 win on penalties on January 20 to progress to the tournment’s semi-final round.

Vietnamese players celebrate after they made it into the final of the AFC U23 Championship on January 23 after beating Qatar. Photo: VnExpress

In the semi-final fixture against Qatar, goal-keeper Bui Tien Dung was one of Viet Nam’s standout performers, with the custodian stopping efforts from Ahmad Moein and Sultan Al Brake to help seal a 4-3 penalty shootout win after 120 minutes of enthralling football had produced a 2-2 draw.

In the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho, students have already engaged in collective dance to support the national team. Photo: VNExpress

A fan in Tam Ky city, the central province of Quang Nam province. Photo: VNExpress

A baby holds picture of goalkeeper Bui Tien Dung. Photo: VNExpress

Veteran Ngo Hong Quang arrives at the Hang Day Stadium in Ha Noi at 12AM. Photo: VNExpress

A baby holds the national flag of Viet Nam in the southern province of Ca Mau. Photo: VNExpress

Fan in Ca Mau province believe Viet Nam U23 team will win the final match. Photo: VNExpress