Football - January 20, 2019 | 04:57 pm PT

Vietnamese players keep their cool, then explode with joy

After fighting with their backs to their wall, Vietnamese players celebrated wildly after winning the penalty shootout against Jordan.

When Defender Bui Tien Dung stepped up to take the deciding penalty for Vietnam, the shootout score was 3-2, with one miss from Vietnam and two from Jordan. Dung calmly slotted the ball home and Vietnam became the first team to reach the quarterfinals at the Asian Cup.

On the field, the players could not contain themselves after fighting hard for 120 minutes before the penalty shootout.

Midfielder Luong Xuan Truong leaps into the air and hugs goalkeeper Dang Van Lam tightly. Truong took one of the penalties for Vietnam and scored, while Lam made a save that helped Vietnam won the match.

Team captain Que Ngoc Hai, who took on the pressure of taking the first penalty for his team, showed his leadership with a perfect shot. A few days ago, he’d calmly taken the penalty that sealed 2-0 victory for Vietnam against Yemen.

Arms akimbo and all smiles, 19 year-old Doan Van Hau had a great game as the left wing back. He has been with the team through all major tournaments in 2018.

Goalkeeper Dang Van Lam is mobbed by his teammates.

Vietnam will play their quarter-final game on January 24 against the winner of the Saudi Arabia-Japan match.

By Anh Khoa