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"This is our first time winning against China and the first time that a Southeast Asian team claimed a win in the final round of World Cup qualifiers," Park said in the post-match conference on Tuesday. "I want to thank the fans for always supporting the team."
It took 60 years for Vietnam to get to the final round of World Cup qualifiers, so immediate success is impossible, he said.
"The players have given their best, but asking them to win all the games is too greedy. We should evaluate based on their effort, not by victory and don’t criticize them when they don’t win," Park said.
Vietnam put on an excellent performance in the game with China. In the ninth minute, captain Do Hung Dung made a pinpoint cross for Ho Tan Tai to head it in for Vietnam. Seven minutes later, Vietnam got another one. This time, Dung set up Nguyen Tien Linh with a pass inside the box and all he had to do was tapping it in.
Vietnam netted another goal in the 76th minute with a cracker from Phan Van Duc. China could only find a goal in the very last minute and lost 1-3.
Vietnam’s win against China is a landmark in the history of Southeast Asian football.
In 2018 World Cup qualifiers, Thailand also reached the final round but they could only earn two draws.
Hightlights: Vietnam 3-1 China
