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
