Ranked 112 places higher than their opponents, Vietnam immediately demonstrated their superior power scoring five first half goals and adding 11 more after the interval to register their highest ever score at the senior international level.
Targeting the best possible result to conquer Group B’s top spot, Vietnam coach Mai Duc Chung deployed his strongest squad right from the start and promptly took control of the game.
It took 11 minutes for the first goal to arrive via Nguyen Thi Thanh Nha, with an own goal by Haneefa doubling the advantage two minutes later.
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(Photo: AFC)
The comfortable lead inspired the Vietnamese to play more confidently and blasted three more goals with winger Nguyen Thi Tuyet Dung, Nguyen Thi Tuyet Ngan and Tran Thi Thuy Trang etching their names on the scoresheet to make it 5-0 at half-time.
Things got worse for Ahmed Shareef’s side after the break, with Chuong Thi Kieu starting a Vietnamese scoring spree when she added a sixth in the 50th minute.
As the lop-sided scenario remained, Vietnam continued to add 10 more goals to their tally, with Pham Hai Yen, who had come in late in the first half, delivering an exceptional display by netting a double hat-trick, which earned her the Player of the Match title.
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Vietnamese players celebrate scoring a goal during the match. (Photo: AFC)
The other goals were scored by captain Huynh Nhu (56’), Nguyen Thi Thanh Nha (62’), Nguyen Thi Tuyet Dung (65’), and Ho Thi Quynh (82’).
The win puts Vietnam within 90 minutes of qualification for next year’s Finals, with a win against group hosts Tajikistan next Wednesday being enough to seal their place in the India 2022 draw.
After the match at Republican Central Stadium in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, President of the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) Le Khanh Hai and the Standing Board of the VFF Executive Committee praised the team for their amazing display and fighting spirit and granted them a bonus of VND300 million (over US$13,200).
