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"I have studied Vietnam really carefully. This game was truly a tough one. Vietnam played so well. I'm proud of my players. They have been through a challenging match, physically and mentally," Ivankovic said in the post-match press conference.
Oman, with home ground advantage, dominated the game from the start. They got a penalty in the 14th minute, which Moshin Al-Khaldi failed to convert. Vietnam scored first, in the 39th minute with a tap-in from Nguyen Tien Linh.
However, Oman quickly equalized minutes later from a volley by Issam Al Sabhi. Four minutes into the second half, Oman took the lead when Al-Khaldi scored directly from a corner. The third goal for Oman came in the 63rd minute, when Salaah Al-Yahyaei successfully converted a penalty.
"After the first penalty failed, the players were so disappointed. I had to encourage them to be patient and the goals would come," Ivankovic added.
Before defeating Vietnam, Oman caused a surprise by beating Japan in the first game, but in the next two games, lost to Australia and Saudi Arabia. They are third in group B with six points, behind Australia and Saudi Arabia. After four straight losses, Vietnam are at the bottom.
World Cup qualifiers: Oman 3-1 Vietnam
