Vietnam knock out Jordan on penalties, enter quarters

Jordan's Khalil and Vietnam's Cong Hoang in action during their match at Al Maktoum stadium in Dubai.

Having made the round of 16 at the last moment, Vietnam entered their second ever quarterfinal since 2007 after getting the better of Jordan on penalties in the AFC Asian Cup at the Al Maktoum Stadium on Sunday night.
The Golden Dragons had qualified as one of four best third-placed teams and they came up with a gritty performance to win 4-2 in the penalty shoot-out after regulation time had ended 1-1
Baha Abdel Rahman's 39th minute freekick was cancelled out by Nguyen Cong Phuong on 51 minutes. And after extra time, captain Que Ngoc Hai, Do Hung Dung, Luong Xuan Truong and Bui Tien Dung were on target for Vietnam, while Tran Minh Vuong's shot was blocked by Jordan captain and goalkeeper Amer Shafi.
Abdel Rahman and Ahmad Ersan scored but Baha Faisal Seif's attempt hit the woodwork after which Ahmad Sameer Salah's shot was saved by goalkeeper Dang Van Lam.
Vietnam now take on the winners of the match between Japan and Saudi Arabia, in the last eight.
It was a lively opening to the game with Vietnam making the early moves. Jordan finally got a foot in after 11 minutes after which it was fast paced and end to end football from both sides.
The first real attempt came though on 18 minutes with Abdel Rahman sending a neat through for Yousef Rawshdeh but the latter couldn't quite get hold of his left-footed grounder and it was safely collected by onrushing goalkeeper Dang Van Lam. They had another brilliant opportunity two minutes later after Feras Zeyad Shilbaya whipped in an inch perfect cross from the right and the unmarked Yaseen Mahmoud Bakheet was in the most ideal of positions. But he botched it by drilling it way over the cross bar from close range.
Mousa Mohammad Suleiman then saw his solo effort kept out by Lam after he had galloped dorm the right following a counter.
Vietnam came close on 28 minutes through Bui Tien Dung, who got a faint touch with a clever back header following Phuong's freekick. But Jordan captain and goalkeeper Amer Shafi warded off the threat.
The veteran was called into action yet again on 34 minutes after Doan Van Hau played a one-two with Phuong and then unleashed a stinging shot. But Shafi managed to keep it away and the defence made the clearance before Hau could pounce on the rebound.
Jordan, who had kept probing, were rewarded following a freekick after Do Hung Dung had felled Salem Alajalin just outside the left of the box. And Abdel Rahman stepped up to nestle it into the far corner of the net on 39 minutes.
Vietnam had twin attempts just before half-time through Do Hung Dung but Shafi was on hand to deny the midfielder on both the occasions. The Golden Dragons nullified Jordan's lead by getting the equaliser on 51 minutes through Phuong, whose first-time shot from close, sailed in, following Nguyen Tronf Hoang's perfect cross from the right.
Vietnam enjoyed the ascendancy with Phan Van Duc almost slipping it past Shafi but Bahkeet made a timely goalline clearance, on the hour.
And much later on 74 minutes, Dung's shot was blocked by Shafi.
The game went into extra time and Jordan almost came close on 103 minutes but Lam punched away Abdel Rahman's threatening freekick.
It was a tense second period after which it was decided by penalties.
james@khaleejtimes.com