7 times that Vietnam's football team conceded last-minute goal

Defender Phan Tuan Tai (number 12) breaks down on the pitch after Iraq scored in the last minute of World Cup qualifier against Vietnam at My Dinh Stadium, Hanoi, Nov. 21, 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Hieu Luong

The national football team have suffered defeat or lost points due to last-minute goal seven times in official tournaments, including three times to Iraq.

The first time was at the 2000 Tiger Cup semifinals, when Gendut Doni Christiawan scored to secure a 3-2 victory for Indonesia in the 120th minute. Indonesia led twice during the game and Vietnam came back with equalizers both times, but they had no chance to score a third one.

Seven years later, Indonesia once again scored a heartbreaking last-minute goal against Vietnam, at the AFF Cup group stage. Saktiawan Sinaga scored in the 90' minute to settle a 1-1 draw. Vietnam thus dropped to the group's second position and had to play the strong Thailand in the semifinals, where they were defeated and eliminated.

Five other last-minute goals were lost to stronger opponents.

At the Asian Cup group stage game on Nov. 14, 2009, striker Raja Rafe scored the only goal in Hanoi’s My Dinh Stadium in the 90'+4 minute to settle a 1-0 victory for Syria.

Syria celebrate their winning goal against Vietnam in the 90'+4 minute at the Asian Cup group stage in My Dinh Stadium in Hanoi on Nov. 14, 2009. Photo by VnExpress/Hoang Ha

At the third World Cup qualification round, Vietnam suffered a 2-3 loss to China on Oct. 8, 2021 after Wu Lei lao headed the ball in in the 90'+5 minute, just five minutes after Vietnam’s Nguyen Tien Linh scored an equalizer.

Vietnam conceded the most last-minute goals, three, from Iraq, out of five encounters.

The first time was at a World Cup qualifier on Oct. 8, 2015, when Younis Mahmoud scored in the 90’+7 minute, from a penalty shot, to settle a 1-1 draw.

Three years later, Vietnam suffered a 2-3 loss to Iraq at the Asian Cup 2019 group stage with a 90’ minute goal from a freekick by Ali Adnan.

Ali Adnan scores from a freekick in the 90' minute to secure Iraq's 3-2 victory against Vietnam in the Asian Cup group stage in Abu Dhabi, UAE on Jan. 8, 2019. Photo by AFC

They suffered a heartbreaking ending again playing Iraq at the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in Hanoi on Tuesday night. Vietnam held a strong defensive display throughout the game but the turning point came in the 90+6 minute when Ibrahim Bayesh crossed from the right for Mohanad Ali to head the ball past goalkeeper Dang Van Lam. Iraq left with a 1-0 victory and Vietnam empty-handed.

But the Tuesday last-minute goal did not mean the end of Vietnam yet. They now stand second in Group F, below Iraq and above the Philippines and Indonesia.

The two top teams from each group will enter the third qualification round of the 2026 World Cup, and the door will be wide open for Vietnam if they have a good result in the game against Indonesia in March next year.