Riffa: A
splendid goal from Tran Thanh was enough to give Vietnam a historic 1-0
win over hosts Bahrain in their AFC U-19 Championship Bahrain 2016
quarter-final encounter on Sunday.
The Vietnam
striker’s instinctive chip over goalkeeper Yusif Habib in the 72nd
minute sealed a first-ever semi-final berth for his country, as they
also qualified for the FIFA U-20 World Cup Korea Republic 2017 for the
first time in their history.
A crowd of 10,610 watched on as the hosts took on
the last remaining Southeast Asian team on a warm evening at Bahrain
National Stadium.
Bahrain had the first real chance of the evening
in the 19th minute as a free kick was whipped in from the left and found
captain Ahmed Mubarak at the far post but goalkeeper Bui Tien Dung
spread himself well to block and then fall on the ball.
Mohamed Marhoon then put his free kick from 25
yards out wide of the left post before Ahmed Saleh beat his man for pace
on the right and put in a low cross that was just too close to Bui.
Vietnam then had an opportunity of its own when
Duong Van Hao was fouled near the right goal line and Nguyen Quang Hai
opted to put in a shot on goal from the resulting free kick.
Goalkeeper Yusif Habib elected to punch the ball
and Doan Van Hau’s follow-up effort was headed away by the defender at
the near post.
Bahrain then failed to adequately clear a Ho Minh
Di free kick in the 36th minute as Bui Dung picked up the loose ball
outside the box, sending a defender the wrong way with a shimmy before
arrowing a shot straight at the goalkeeper.
The teams went into the break with the scores
tied, but there was a visible upping of tempo after the break as both
sides sought the opener.
Mohamed Marhoon spurned a great chance for Bahrain
in the 50th minute after a long ball back into the Vietnam box found
him sprinting clear of a defensive line that had pushed up.
However, the midfielder took one too many touches
before miskicking the ball, allowing Bui Tien Dung to make a block
before a defender hacked it away.
Zevad Ali’s languid backpass gave the home
supporters heart palpitations as it was straight to Ha Duc Chinh but Ho
Minh Di’s follow up shot was deflected just wide of goal.
Hassan Ali then landed awkwardly after a challenge
in the air in the 64th minute, needing to be stretchered off in agony
as Faisal Shawqi was brought on.
Eight minutes later, Vietnam were ahead thanks to a well-taken set piece.
A long free kick into the box was met on the
volley by Ho Minh Di but although it was initially off target, Tran
Tranh redirected it over the goalkeeper and into goal with a delicate
first-time chip.
The stadium was stunned into silence as the
Vietnamese bench celebrated wildly but the majority home crowd showed
great sportsmanship by warmly applauding the brilliant goal soon after.
Bahrain were soon back into the attack but
although the crowd was brought to their feet on several occasions as
they came close, they were unable to find the elusive equaliser as
Vietnam’s defence held firm.
News Source: Goal.com, RT.com, theguardian.com, Dailymail.co.uk
No comments:
Post a Comment