Vietnam has clinched a spot in the third-place playoff of an ongoing tournament after overcoming Pakistan 4-2. The victory sets up a match against Malaysia on October 5, as Vietnam aims for a bronze medal finish.
The match saw Pakistan initially take the lead in the 31st minute when Mohib Ullah took advantage of a defensive lapse to score against Vietnam’s goalkeeper, Patrik Le Giang. However, Vietnam rallied after halftime, with Nguyen Dinh Bac and Phan Tuan Tai providing a fresh impetus to their attack.
Nguyen Hai Long leveled the score shortly into the second half, thanks to an assist from Tuan Tai. The momentum swung in Vietnam’s favor as Dinh Bac played a crucial role in orchestrating the attack, setting up captain Nguyen Hoang Duc to score in the 57th minute, giving Vietnam the lead.
Dinh Bac continued to influence the match, adding to Vietnam’s tally in the 80th minute by controlling a long pass from Tuan Tai and scoring past the near post. Pakistan managed to pull one back in the 88th minute when Ali Akbar Khan’s shot deflected off Kaleem Ullah, reducing the deficit to 3-2.
Vietnam sealed their victory in stoppage time with Dinh Bac’s assist to Williams Minh Hoang, who netted his first international goal, bringing the final score to 4-2. This victory secured Vietnam second place in Group B with six points, keeping their hopes alive for a podium finish. Meanwhile, Indonesia and Thailand are set to compete in the tournament’s final.