Vietnam beat Brunei 6-0 in AFC U23 Championship qualifier

Nguyen Quang Hai (R) hugs Truong Van Thai Quy after scoring Vietnam's sixth goal from a penalty against U23 Brunei Friday night. Photo by Lam Thoa

Vietnam had their first game at the 2020 AFC U23 Championship qualifiers in Hanoi Friday night and it was an easy start.

They beat Brunei 6-0 in a match that happened entirely on the guests' side of the field. Vietnam held 80 percent possession of the ball and their defense had no chance to be tested.

Ha Duc Chinh scored the first goal from a header in the 10th minute, and the scoreboard was tripled by the end of the first half.

Star midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai was subbed in in the second half and helped build up more attacks, which earned Vietnam another goal and two penalties, both taken successfully.

Expectations for Vietnam have been high after they won the silver medal in the previous edition of the tournament in January 2018, beating more fancied teams along the way.

Vietnam's next game in Group K of the 2020 AFC U-23 Championship Qualifiers is against Indonesia on March 24, and Thailand two days later. Thailand, which already has a spot in the championship as the host, beat Indonesia 4-0 earlier on Friday.

To qualify for the 2020 AFC U-23 Championship, Vietnam has to get the top spot in the group or become one of the best second-placed teams.