Vietnam soccer team’s top moments of 2018

By Staff reporters   December 31, 2018 | 04:37 am PT
Tears, snow and shiny cups feature as they reached historic heights.
Vietnam soccer teams top moments of 2018 - ed

Vietnam’s midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai prepares for a penalty kick as a teammate wipes snow off the ball during the 2018 AFC final versus Uzbekistan in Changzhou, China, on January 27.

Vietnam soccer teams top moments of 2018 - 1

The Vietnamese team celebrate after scoring against Uzbekistan to draw level at 1-1 in the AFC final. Photo courtesy of AFC.

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Goalkeeper Bui Tien Dung bursts into tears when Vietnam lost against Uzbekistan 1-2 in the AFC final.

Despite being considered the underdog at the start of the tournament, Vietnam won many plaudits by beating top teams to earn a place in the final. They defeated Australia 1-0 in the group stage, Iraq in the quarterfinals and Qatar in the semifinals, the last two on penalty shootouts.

In the final the team equalized after being a goal down, thanks to a free kick by Nguyen Quang Hai, but lost after Uzbekistan scored the winner in the last minute of extra time to finish runner-up.

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Football fans welcome the U23 Vietnam team in Hanoi as they come back from the AFC Cup with silver medals. Thousands of supporters flocked to the streets from Noi Bai Airport to Hanoi's city center to greet the team bus, delaying the Vietnamese PM's reception for the team by five hours. 

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Vietnamese players make a wonderful gesture to striker Nguyen Van Toan, who caught up with an injury and missed some matches of the AFF. Key striker Nguyen Cong Phuong carried Toan out of the stadium on his back.

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After Vietnam scored the opener in 39th minute of Cambodia group match of the AFF, team captain Que Ngoc Hai brought the number 9 jersey of Toan out and the team held it up high in front of the fans and cameras as a tribute for Toan.

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Quang Hai is surrounded by four Filipino players in the second leg of the 2018 AFF Cup semifinal at the My Dinh Stadium, Hanoi, December 2.

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Vietnam celebrates after beating Malaysia in the second leg of the 2018 AFF Cup final at the My Dinh Stadium, Hanoi, December 15.

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Goalkeeper Dang Van Lam celebrates after Vietnam beat Malaysia in the second leg of the 2018 AFF Cup final at the My Dinh Stadium, Hanoi, December 15.

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The Vietnamese national team and their South Korean coach Park Hang-seo with the AFF Cup after the country beat Malaysia in the second leg of the final at the My Dinh Stadium, Hanoi, December 15.

Vietnam lifted the AFF Cup for a second time after their first win in 2008.

 
 
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