Iraq sink Vietnam with last minute goal in World Cup qualifier

In a thrilling World Cup qualifier, Iraq maintained their perfect record in the 2026 second qualification round with a last-minute goal by Mohanad Ali, defeating Vietnam in a closely contested match.

Vietnam's spirited display, marked by a strong defense and Dang Van Lam's goalkeeping heroics, was notable. They also showed the ability to create promising attacks, though they struggled to convert these into goals. Iraq displayed a more physically dominant game with effective ball recovery and pressing, which ultimately paid off in the final moments of the match.

Mohanad Ali takes a header threatening Vietnamese goal in the second half of their World Cup qualifier in Hanoi on Nov. 21, 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Hieu Luong

The turning point came in the 90+6 minute when Ali, seizing a cross from Ibrahim Bayesh from the right, headed the ball past Van Lam, scoring the winning goal for Iraq.

Vietnam showcased remarkable resilience and a robust defensive stance throughout the match, with notable performances from players like Thanh Binh and Van Khang. Their defensive efforts, combined with creative attacks, especially from the left with Van Khang, brought them close to scoring on several occasions.

Thanh Binh stood out with his defensive interventions, including a crucial moment where he cleared the ball in front of the goal. Van Khang was instrumental in creating attacking opportunities, particularly noted for his dangerous crosses into Iraq's penalty area.

Vietnamese keeper Van Lam had a notable impact, making crucial saves and showing commendable effort, particularly in catching a flick from Mohanad Ali at 79' and saving Aymen Hussein's shot at 30'.

While Iraq's Mohanad Ali was the star of the match for scoring the decisive goal, Ali Adnan and Aymen Hussein were also pivotal, with Adnan's deep throw-in at 90'+5 nearly resulting in another scoring opportunity.

The results kept Iraq on top of Group F and Vietnam second, followed by Singapore and Indonesia who had a 1-1 draw also on Tuesday night. The teams will continue their second World Cup qualification round in March. The top two teams from each group will enter the third qualification round.

 

 

Iraq sink Vietnam with last minute goal in World Cup qualifier

Việt Nam 0-1 Iraq