Event | 2018 AFC U-23 Championship | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||
After extra time | |||||||
Date | 27 January 2018 | ||||||
Venue | Changzhou Olympic Sports Centre, Changzhou | ||||||
Man of the Match | Nguyễn Quang Hải | ||||||
Referee | Ahmed Al-Kaf (Oman) | ||||||
Attendance | 6,200 | ||||||
Weather | Heavy snow % humidity | ||||||
The 2018 AFC U-23 Championship Final was a football match that took place on 27 January 2018 at the Changzhou Olympic Sports Centre in Changzhou, China, to determine the winners of the 2018 AFC U-23 Championship. The match was contested by Vietnam and Uzbekistan, the winners of the semi-finals.
Uzbekistan beat Vietnam after extra time to claim their maiden U-23 Asian Cup title in what was considered to be the most exciting and special final in the history of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). [1] [2]
Vietnam's participation to the final was considered as a surprise. Prior to the tournament, Vietnam had just participated in one edition, the 2016 AFC U-23 Championship where they finished bottom with total three defeats. Uzbekistan, being considered as a heavyweight, in their first two editions were not successful, being eliminated from the group stage both two editions and only claimed one victory in both tournaments.
Vietnam participated in the tournament together with South Korea, Australia and Syria. Being in a tough group, Vietnam was believed to make an early exit from the group stage. That was true in the first match, when Vietnam lost 1–2 to South Korea. However, Vietnam surprisingly bounced back and beat Australia 1–0, took vengeance for the defeat two years ago. After drawing Syria 0–0, Vietnam, together with Malaysia were the first two Southeast Asian teams to qualify into the knockout stage. Vietnam continued to surprise every predictions by defeating Iraq and Qatar on the penalty shootout after two thrillers, both ended 3–3 and 2–2 after 120 minutes each. Thus Vietnam had written history by becoming the first Southeast Asian team since 1999, to play in the final of an AFC tournament. [3] This was also Vietnam's first ever AFC final in their football history. [4]
Uzbekistan was placed in group A with host China, Qatar and Oman. Unlike Vietnam, Uzbekistan had more experience, and was expected to make at least the semi-finals. However, their hope was shattered by a humiliating 0–1 loss to Qatar, before they fought back and defeated China and Oman both with the score 1–0. When the Young White Wolves passed into the quarter-finals, the Uzbeks showed their strength by demolishing an Olympic-preparing squad and Asian champions Japan in a surprising 4–0 victory, before taking 120 minutes to defeat another East Asian giant, South Korea, 4–1. [5]
Vietnam | Round | Uzbekistan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Opponents | Result | Group stage | Opponents | Result | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
South Korea | 1–2 | Match 1 | Qatar | 0–1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Australia | 1–0 | Match 2 | China | 1–0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Syria | 0–0 | Match 3 | Oman | 1–0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Group D runners-up
Source: AFC | Final standings | Group A runners-up
Source: AFC | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Opponents | Result | Knockout stage | Opponents | Result | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Iraq | 3–3 ( a.e.t. )(5–3 p ) | Quarter-finals | Japan | 4–0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Qatar | 2–2 ( a.e.t. )(4–3 p ) | Semi-finals | South Korea | 4–1 ( a.e.t. ) |
In decidedly snowy conditions at the Changzhou Olympic Sports Center, it was Uzbekistan who controlled the early proceedings, and they duly took the lead on eight minutes when a poorly marked Rustamjon Ashurmatov headed home Khamdamov’s outswinging corner.
Uzbekistan continued to press after the breakthrough, as both a Javokhir Sidikov header and Khamdamov’s effort from 20 yards forced Vietnam goalkeeper Bui Tien Dung into quick saves.
Despite struggling to fully impose themselves on the game, Vietnam briefly threatened to restore parity shortly after the half hour mark when Pham Xuan Manh’s excellent cross narrowly eluded the onrushing Phan Van Duc and Nguyen Quang Hai.
However, after seeing Azizjon Ganiev fire narrowly over, Vietnam drew level on the stroke of half-time. Nguyen Cong Phuong was brought down on the edge of the area and from the resulting free-kick, Quang Hai superbly curled the ball past the despairing dive of Botirali Ergashev to register his fifth goal of the tournament.
After a delayed restart to allow a layer of snow to be removed from the pitch, Uzbekistan were the first to shine once again, this time Khamdamov stinging the palms of Tien Dung courtesy of a 48th minute long-range drive.
Moments later, Tien Dung, the hero of Vietnam’s semi-final win over Iraq, reacted well to deny Sidikov from six yards, before Uzbekistan captain Zabikhillo Urinboev fizzed a shot wide of the left-hand upright on 70 minutes.
In the last meaningful action of normal time, Urinboev could, and very possibly should, have won the match for the Central Asians, but the striker inexplicably lashed his attempt from eight yards over the bar after Tien Dung had parried Akramjon Komilov’s cross into his path.
Urinboev’s miss was to matter little in the end though, as Sidorov applied an expert finish to Khamdamov's last gasp corner at the end of additional time to seal the title for Uzbekistan and break Vietnamese hearts on a day of high drama.
Vietnam | 1–2 (a.e.t.) | Uzbekistan |
---|---|---|
Nguyễn Quang Hải 41' | Report | Ashurmatov 8' Sidorov 120' |
Vietnam | Uzbekistan (first half) | Uzbekistan (second half and extra time) |
|
|
Match rules:
|
Prior to the final, the AFC had assigned Chinese referee Ma Ning to be in the final. However, only a few hours before the match, Ma was replaced by Omani referee Ahmed Al-Kaf. [6] The AFC did not explain their reasoning behind its decision, however, it was believed to have been from disputes between the host officials and the AFC over refereeing. Al-Kaf himself had also refereed in some previous AFC Champions League matches. [6]
The match was played in heavy snow, under –2°C, which was relatively very cold, and it had been suggested that the match be delayed due to snowfall. [7] However, the AFC turned down the request and ordered the match to continue. After the end of the first half, the AFC asked that the snow be cleared from the field, and it took around thirty minutes to one hour until the match could be continued. [8] It was criticised in the aftermath of the match, both by Uzbek and Vietnamese fans, as both teams were not accustomed to play in such harsh weather conditions. [9]
In the first half, the Uzbeks were permitted by the AFC to wear all-white, despite heavy snow storms across the city. Because of this, not only the Vietnamese, but even the Uzbek players found themselves very hard to find and see their own players on the field. [1] To solve the problem, the Uzbeks had changed to blue uniforms in the second half of the match. [10]
The Vietnam national football team represents Vietnam in men's international football and is controlled by the Vietnam Football Federation, the governing body of football in Vietnam.
The Vietnam national under-23 and Olympic football team represents Vietnam in international football tournaments at the under-22 and under-23 age level.
The 2019 AFC Asian Cup was the 17th edition of the AFC Asian Cup, the quadrennial international men's football championship of Asia organised by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). It was held in the United Arab Emirates from 5 January to 1 February 2019.
The 2014 AFF Championship, sponsored by Suzuki and officially known as the 2014 AFF Suzuki Cup, was the 10th edition of the AFF Championship, an international association football competition consisting of national teams of member nations of the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF).
The 2016 AFC U-23 Championship was the second edition of the AFC U-23 Championship, the biennial international age-restricted football championship organised by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) for the men's under-23 national teams of Asia. The tournament was held in Qatar between 12–30 January 2016. A total of 16 teams compete in the tournament. The tournament was also renamed from the "AFC U-22 Championship" to the "AFC U-23 Championship".
Nguyễn Công Phượng is a Vietnamese professional footballer who plays as a forward or an attacking midfielder for J1 League club Yokohama FC and the Vietnam national team.
Bùi Tiến Dũng is a Vietnamese professional footballer who plays as a centre back for V.League 1 club Viettel and the Vietnam national team.
The 2018 AFC U-23 Championship was the third edition of the AFC U-23 Championship, the biennial international age-restricted football championship organised by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) for the men's under-23 national teams of Asia. A total of 16 teams competed in the tournament. It took place between 9–27 January 2018, and was hosted by China.
Nguyễn Quang Hải is a Vietnamese professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or a winger for Ligue 2 club Pau and the Vietnam national team. In 2018 and 2019, he was nominated by a panel of sports journalists and football experts for the Best Footballer in Asia award.
Bùi Tiến Dụng is a Vietnamese footballer of Mường ethnicity who plays as a central midfielder for V.League 1 club Công An Hà Nội.
The 2020 AFC U-23 Championship was the fourth edition of the AFC U-23 Championship, the biennial international age-restricted men's football championship organised by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) for under-23 national teams. A total of 16 teams competed in the tournament. It took place between 8–26 January 2020 in Thailand.
Đoàn Văn Hậu is a Vietnamese professional footballer who plays as a left-back for V.League 1 club Công An Hà Nội and the Vietnam national team.
Bùi Tiến Dũng is a Vietnamese footballer who plays as goalkeeper for Công An Hà Nội.
Group D of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup took place from 7 to 16 January 2019. The group consisted of Iran, Iraq, Vietnam and Yemen. The top two teams, Iran and Iraq, along with third-placed Vietnam, advanced to the round of 16.
The knockout stage of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup was the second and final stage of the competition, following the group stage. It began on 20 January with the round of 16 and ended on 1 February with the final match, held at the Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi. A total of 16 teams advanced to the knockout stage to compete in a single-elimination style tournament.
The Vietnam V.League 1 clubs in the AFC Cup. This details the participation and performances in the competition since its rebranding and reformatting in 2004 and excludes the details of the old AFC Club Championship.
National football teams from Vietnam has qualified for five AFC Asian Cups so far:
The men's national association football teams of Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates played a match on 8 July 2007 as part of the 2007 AFC Asian Cup. The game marked the debut of a united Vietnamese national football team at continental level. Previously, only South Vietnam had played in competitive tournaments. Vietnam qualified for the tournament as one of four co-hosts of the 2007 Asian Cup, along with Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.
The 2022 AFC U-23 Asian Cup was the 5th edition of the AFC U-23 Asian Cup, a biennial international age-restricted football championship organised by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) for the men's under-23 national teams of Asia. The players had to be born on or after 1 January 1999.
The 2023 AFC U-20 Asian Cup was the 41st edition of the AFC U-20 Asian Cup, the biennial international youth football championship organised by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) for the men's under-20 national teams of Asia. This edition is the first to be played as an under-20 tournament, as the AFC proposed to switch the tournament from under-19 to under-20 starting from 2023. Moreover, the tournament was also rebranded from the "AFC U-19 Championship" to the "AFC U-20 Asian Cup". On 25 January 2021, the AFC announced that Uzbekistan would retain hosting rights for the 2023 edition after the cancellation of the 2020 AFC U-19 Championship due to the COVID-19 pandemic.