Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Goa: Nguyen Duy Khiem's winner five minutes from time completed an extraordinary comeback by Vietnam as they eliminated 2014 semi-finalists Australia from the AFC U-16 Championship India 2016 after coming back from two goals down to win 3-2 on Monday in Group B.
Australia captain John Roberts put the Joeys in front on the 18th minute, before he added a second 10 minutes later to give his side a 2-0 lead at the break.
Vietnam responded strongly in the second half, however, and Nguyen Huu Thang clawed one back on the 51st minute before the same player netted the equaliser nine minutes later. And there was yet more drama to come as Duy Khiem scored on 85 minutes to secure all three points and break Australian hearts.
With Japan having secured first place in the group with an 8-0 win over Kyrgyzstan earlier in the day, the runners-up spot and a place in the quarter-finals is set to go to a final Matchday climax as it will be winner-takes-all tie between Vietnam and the Central Asians.
Australia began proceedings on the front foot with the Southeast Asians looking to use their pacey forwards to hit Tony Vidmar's side on the counter.
Powerfully-built striker Roberts looked the obvious target up front for Australia and he put Mark Moric through on goal just before the quarter-hour mark but he was denied by a last ditch tackle and, shortly after, the same player drilled a low shot wide of Huynh Huu Tuan's left-hand post.
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