Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Bangkok: Vietnam held their nerve to beat Chinese Taipei 5-4 at the AFC U-20 Futsal Championship on Friday, a result which has helped them edge a step closer to a place in the tournament’s quarter-finals.
The win sees the East Asians go second in Group B with seven points, one behind table toppers Indonesia – who are assured of a place in the last eight – but crucially two ahead of Japan who they will face on Saturday knowing that a draw or better will be enough for them to progress.
Despite having recored two successive defeats heading into the game at Bangkok’s Hua Mark Indoor Stadium, Chinese Taipei were quick out of the blocks against Vietnam as goals from Huang Chieh, Lai Ming Hui and Tan Wu-ling helped secure a 3-0 lead within the first ten minutes.
However, Vietnam responded through Duong Ngoc Linh and Vu Ngoc Lan efforts in the first half, before hauling themselves level courtesy of Nguyen Tuan Thanh’s strike in the 29th minute.
Lin Chih-hung restored Chinese Taipei’s lead shortly less than sixty seconds later, but a Tran Nhat Trung double in the final three minutes proved the difference for a jubilant Vietnam.
Chinese Taipei: Huang 6’, Lai 8’, Tan 10’, Lin 30’
Vietnam: Linh 16’ Lan 17’, Thanh 29. Trung 27’, 40’
Photo: AFC