Vietnamese players break down in tears after losing last-minute goal to Iraq

Iraq scored in the last extra minute, 20 seconds before the final whistle.

Ibrahim Bayesh crossed from the right flank for Mohanad Ali (number 10) to head it in past keeper Dang Van Lam.

Mohanad Ali takes off his jersey to celebrate the winning goal.

This is the third time Vietnam conceded a late goal from Iraq. At another World Cup qualifier in 2015, Iraq scored an equalizer in the 90 minute. They also scored in the 90 minute of an Asian Cup 2019 group stage game to secure a 3-2 victory against Vietnam.

Vietnamese players break down with disappointment on Hanoi's My Dinh Stadium, their hopes of getting a draw with group F's strongest contender dashed.

Defender Phan Tuan Tai receives encouragement from keeper Dang Van Lam and an Iraq player. He seemed to have the biggest regret about the loss for having failed to catch up with Bayesh to stop him from contributing to the goal.

Tuan Tai (number 12) holds his head as he blames himself for the last-minute loss.

Tai had showed signs of cramps in the last minutes of the game, but Vietnam had no substitutions left then.

Midfielder Que Ngoc Hai (R) said the team have played a brave game and losing in the last minute was unexpected.

Vietnamese players are distressed after the game, during which they have shown great resilience to prevent different dangerous attacks from the stronger opponent.

This is Vietnam's four losses under coach Philippe Troussier, all against Asia's big names Iraq, China, Uzbekistan and South Korea.

Coach Troussier (R) and an assistant express nervousness in one of many times Vietnam's goal was threatened.

The French coach stands frozen when Iraq celebrate their winning goal.

He then encourages each player, after thanking Vietnamese fans in the stadium.

He said after the match that he was disappointed about the result, but not about how his team have played and the efforts they made.

Iraq now top group F with six points, Vietnam rank second, followed by the Philippines and Indonesia. The teams will continue playing their second World Cup qualification round next March, and the top two teams from each group will enter the third round.