Although 52 places higher than their opponents in the world rankings, the Vietnamese team still faced many difficulties against the Hong Kong (China) team. The away team was even very close to scoring when they had a face-to-face situation with goalkeeper Van Lam and two shots that hit the Vietnamese team's goal.

Although controlling the ball more, the Vietnamese players still lacked cohesion and rhythm in decisive situations. Without creating clear scoring opportunities, the home team unexpectedly opened the score in the 30th minute. Quang Hai was fouled in the penalty area and the referee immediately blew a penalty. At the 11m mark, captain Que Ngoc Hai calmly finished accurately to open the score for the home team.

The referee's decision to award a penalty made the coaching staff and players of the Hong Kong (China) team unhappy. In the final minutes of the first half, the away team increased the pressure and showed a style of play that was not afraid of collisions. One of them, Hoang Duc, was injured and had to leave the field after a dangerous tackle by player Tan Chun Lok.

In the second half, the Vietnamese team still controlled the ball better. In the 47th minute, player Dinh Thanh Binh touched the ball in the penalty area in a passive situation and missed a regrettable opportunity when he had an empty goal in front of him. In the remaining minutes, it felt like the second goal was very close but the home team's attack could not create any more breakthroughs.

Meanwhile, the Hong Kong (China) team was still formidable in their attacks. The away team even hit the crossbar of the Vietnamese team once more. Although they could not score, the Hong Kong (China) team had a commendable match.

Luckily winning 1-0 against Hong Kong (China), the Vietnamese team needs to improve many things, especially the ability to coordinate teams, defend and organize attacks. The highlight of this match was the presence of nearly 20,000 fans at Lach Tray Stadium.

On the evening of June 20, the Vietnamese team played a friendly match with the Syrian team at Thien Truong Stadium (Nam Dinh).

A fan's enthusiasm before the match between Vietnam and Hong Kong (China). Photo: VIET AN

Lach Tray field surface is of good quality. Photo: VIET AN

A large number of fans came to Lach Tray Stadium to cheer for the Vietnamese team. Photo: VIET AN

List of main players of the Vietnam national team. Photo: VFF

Vietnamese players greet home fans.

The Vietnamese team practices comfortably before the match with Hong Kong (China). Photo: VIET AN


The Hong Kong (China) team warms up before the match. Photo: VIET AN

THE MATCH BEGINS!

The Vietnamese team took the field in red shirts and red pants, while the Hong Kong (China) team played in white shirts and white pants.

Minute 3: Player Quang Hai shoots from the 16m50 line, but the ball hits a Hong Kong (China) player's foot. The Vietnamese team is dominating the game.

Minute 6: From a corner kick, a Hong Kong (China) player crossed the ball dangerously, Helio player rushed in but missed the ball.

Vietnam team coaching staff. Photo: VIET AN

Minute 12: Player Van Tung fired a shot from 20 meters away but the ball went too high over the goal of the Hong Kong (China) team.

Doan Van Hau actively fought for the ball. Photo: VIET AN

Minute 19: Hong Kong (China) team counterattacked dangerously, fortunately Wong Wai's decisive pass in the penalty area was blocked by the Vietnamese team's defense.

VAN LAM MAKES A GREAT SAVE!

Minute 20: In a one-on-one situation, goalkeeper Van Lam excellently blocked the shot of the striker from Hong Kong (China).

Van Hau's pass proved dangerous as it eliminated the Hong Kong (China) defenders. Photo: VIET AN

Minute 24: Center back Thanh Binh jumped high and headed the ball wide of the away team's goal.

Quang Hai was carefully taken care of by the opposing team's players when he had the ball. Photo: VIET AN

Minute 16: The coordination between the Vietnamese players still lacks cohesion. Meanwhile, the Hong Kong (China) players play close and high, causing the home team to lose the ball many times.

Minute 28: From Duy Manh's dangerous loss of the ball, the Hong Kong (China) team launched a dangerous counterattack. Matt Orr, the visiting team's player, shot the ball into the Vietnamese team's goal.

Van Tung is active on the field. Photo: VIET AN

GOAL!!! QUE NGOC HAI OPENS THE SCORE!

Minute 30: Quang Hai was fouled in the penalty area and the referee immediately blew the whistle for a penalty. On the 11m mark, captain Que Ngoc Hai accurately scored to open the score for the home team.

Minute 35: Vietnam team makes a substitution: Truong Tien Anh replaces Ho Tan Tai.

The Hong Kong (China) coach expressed dissatisfaction with the referee's decision to award Vietnam a penalty. Photo: VIET AN


Minute 38: From a free kick near the left corner of the field, player Wong Wai took a technical shot, the ball lightly hit the crossbar of the Vietnamese team's goal and went out.

Que Ngoc Hai scored from the penalty spot to help Vietnam take the lead. Photo: VIET AN

Minute 42: Striker Tuan Hai fired a powerful shot from the 16m50 line but the ball was blocked by the defense of the Hong Kong (China) team.

Hong Kong (China) players actively fought for the ball in search of an equalizer. Photo: VIET AN

Minute 44: Away team player Huang Yang fired a powerful shot, the ball went dangerously but center back Que Ngoc Hai managed to block it in front of the goal.

Minute 45+2: Player Tan Chun Lok received a yellow card after a dangerous tackle on Hoang Duc.

HALF 1 ENDED!

The Vietnam team temporarily leads with a score of 1-0.

SECOND HALF BEGINS!

The Vietnam team replaced 3 players: Phan Tuan Tai, Nguyen Hai Huy and Dinh Thanh Binh entered the field; leaving the field were Nguyen Thanh Binh, Nguyen Van Tung and Nguyen Hoang Duc.

Minute 47: Player Dinh Thanh Binh touched the ball in the penalty area in a passive situation and missed a regrettable opportunity when he had an empty goal in front of him.

Minute 48: Goalkeeper Dang Van Lam flew to punch the ball from a cross from a player from the Hong Kong (China) team. Immediately after, the cross from the away team hit the crossbar of the Vietnamese team.

Minute 51: Quang Hai passed the ball, it lightly touched Thanh Binh and went dangerously, but the Hong Kong (China) goalkeeper played with concentration to make an excellent save.

Hoang Duc had to leave the field on a stretcher for medical attention. Photo: VIET AN

Tuan Hai regrets not scoring against Hong Kong (China). Photo: VIET AN

Minute 59: The Vietnamese team is controlling the ball but still has difficulty approaching the opponent's goal.

Minute 61: Player Sun Ming Him dribbled straight into the middle and shot but could not trouble goalkeeper Dang Van Lam.

Doan Van Hau is one of the outstanding players on the Vietnamese side. Photo: VIET AN

Minute 65: Player Xuan Manh enters the field to replace Tuan Anh.

Quang Hai is playing hard for the Vietnam national team. Photo: VIET AN

Goalkeeper Dang Van Lam is a solid support for the home team. Photo: VIET AN

Hong Kong (China) players are not afraid of collision when competing for the ball. Photo: VIET AN

Minute 72: Quang Hai is playing very hard but the 1997-born player's ball sense is not good.

Minute 74: Doan Van Hau had a subjective defense situation and immediately a player from Hong Kong (China) rushed in. Immediately after that, Van Hau was injured and left the field to make way for Khuat Van Khang.

Minute 76: Van Khang made a dangerous cross, striker Tuan Hai rushed in but the Hong Kong (China) goalkeeper was able to catch the ball.

Minute 77: According to the organizers' statistics, nearly 20,000 fans came to Lach Tray Stadium to watch the match between Vietnam and Hong Kong (China).
Quang Hai was injured after a ball dispute. Photo: VIET AN

Minute 85: Xuan Manh took a decisive shot from 25m away, the ball hit the Hong Kong (China) goalkeeper's hand and hit the crossbar before going out.

Minute 88: Chan Siu Kwan received a yellow card after blocking Duy Manh's shot. At a free kick distance of about 25m, Quang Hai's shot hit the wall set up by the away team's player.

Minute 90+5: Vietnam team's defense successfully neutralized the away team's corner kick.

GAME OVER!

The Vietnamese team beat the Hong Kong team (China) 1-0 with a goal scored by Que Ngoc Hai in the 30th minute.