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Hanoi (AFP) – Vietnam rattled China in a 3-1 upset throughout a World Cup qualifying match on Tuesday, sparking jubilation amongst Hanoi crowds as each nations have fun Lunar New 12 months.
The shock win gave Vietnam’s nationwide workforce their first scalp within the qualifiers after seven straight losses.
It was additionally the primary time the workforce defeated China.
Two targets within the first half by Vietnam’s defender Ho Tan Tai and striker Nguyen Tien Linh helped the Southeast Asian underdog set the tempo.
The win was sealed within the second half when striker Phan Van Duc scored, prompting cheers from 6,000 native spectators at My Dinh Nationwide Stadium.
A comfort aim in the course of the second-half additional time by midfielder Xu Xin couldn’t save China’s slim hope of qualify for the 2022 World Cup — they’re 9 factors beneath third-placed Australia.
“We all the time attempt to acquire most factors once we play our residence matches. And fortuitously at this time, we received in opposition to China on the primary day of Lunar New 12 months,” Vietnam captain Do Hung Dung informed reporters.
Past the soccer area, China and Vietnam are arch-rivals — with tensions spanning commerce, land and water disputes.
“Profitable over China has all the time been Vietnam’s aspiration it doesn’t matter what the match possibly. So I feel this match’s consequence means much more for Vietnam than even its leg within the World Cup,” soccer fan Nguyen Nam Lengthy informed AFP.
Celebrations of the Golden Star Warriors’ triumph had been echoed on-line.
“Profitable over China is a billion occasions larger than successful different groups,” soccer fan Dinh Trung wrote on Fb.
Vietnam is in Group B of the Asian qualifiers and can play their subsequent sport at residence in opposition to Oman on March 24.
© 2022 AFP
