Vietnam bid farewell to Asian Cup with 2-3 defeat to Iraq in Group D's last match

Vietnam bid farewell to the AFC Asian Cup 2023 with a 2-3 defeat to Iraq after conceding in the last minute of the game.
Nguyen Quang Hai scores the equalizer for Vietnam.
Nguyen Quang Hai scores the equalizer for Vietnam.

Vietnam and Iraq created a dramatic and emotional game for the fans. After the first 15 minutes without a chance, Vietnam got the ball into the net after Zaid Tahseen scored an own goal, but VAR intervened and the referee canceled the goal. But it didn’t take too long for Vietnam to open the score.

In the 42nd minute, from a freekick, defender Bui Hoang Viet Anh broke the offside trap and slotted it in, beating the Iraqi goalkeeper.

However, in the last minute of the first half’s injury time, Vietnam were left with 10 men when Khuat Van Khang was sent off after receiving the second yellow card.

In the second half, Iraq only took two minutes to find the equalizer with Rebin Sulaka’s header.

Vietnam, with 10 men, made many substitutions to defend against Iraq’s immense pressure. The chances kept coming and in the 74th minute, Iraq got ahead with another header goal by Aymen Hussein.

Seven minutes later, Hussein got the chance to score a brace, but he missed the penalty after hitting the post. But the drama only just began.

In the first minute of the injury time, a team play put Nguyen Quang Hai in a finishing position and he beat the keeper with a clean shot.

Vietnam were thought to keep one point in this game with 10 men, but they conceded again in the last minute, when Vo Minh Trong fouled an Iraqi player inside the box. From the spot, Hussein got his redemption with an accurate penalty to secure the 3-1 win for Iraq.

With this defeat, Vietnam left Asian Cup this year without a point despite their great efforts.

VNA