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In an exciting match where both teams have the chance to win, Phạm Đức Hòa (red) and his teammates came up short. Photo AFC
BANGKOK The Việt Nam national futsal team are out of the 2024 AFC Futsal Asian Cup after losing in the quarterfinals against Uzbekistan on Wednesday by two goals to one.
Despite the loss, the hopes for qualification into the 2024 FIFA Futsal World Cup are not over, as Việt Nam will have another chance in a qualification play-off round.
The men in red surprised by opening the scoring in the 17th minute through Nguyễn Thịnh Phát, but two late goals from Elbek Tukinov and Juraev Sunatulla took Uzbekistan into the semis.
The match started with early chances going the way of Diego Giustozzi's men, but Châu Đoàn Phát and Từ Minh Quang could not capitalise.
Uzbekistan replied with a shot in the ninth minute from Akhmetzyanov towards Hồ Văn Ý's top corner, but the Vietnamese goalkeeper was able to save the attempt.
Four minutes later, captain Phạm Đức Hòa, after a great long ball from defence, had only the keeper to beat, but his finish was way off target.
Another chance were missed in the 16th minute, as Thịnh Phát hit the woodwork from Đoàn Phát's cross to the far post. However, both players did not have to rue their chances, as they combined just one minute later to create Việt Nam's opener.
From Đoàn Phát's corner, Minh Quang trapped the ball and passed to Thịnh Phát who tapped in the empty net with only three minutes left in the first half.
The Uzbeks piled on the pressure in the second half, and forced save after save from Hồ Văn Ý. Việt Nam replied with a powerful shot from Nguyễn Anh Duy in the 29th minute, but luck again was not on Việt Nam's side as the ball hit the crossbar.
As chances went by for Việt Nam, the cruel law of football started to kick in. In the 34th minute, Ropiev's volley was deflected by Tulkinov's head, and went into the back of Văn Ý's net, levelling the score for Uzbekistan.
Three minutes after the equaliser, Từ Minh Quang had a golden opportunity as he went one-on-one with the Uzbek keeper, but his shot hit the post.
With only one minute remaining on the clock, from another corner by Adilov, Juraev controlled the ball and swiftly shot into the near post. The ball bounced off Văn Ý's hands and went into the net. Việt Nam challenged the video referee system as the team believed that Đức Hòa was fouled after the corner, but the challenge was unsuccessful and the match ended 2-1 to Uzbekistan.
With this result, Uzbekistan joined Thailand, Tajikistan and Iran in the semis. As Uzbekistan have already qualified as the host of the 2024 FIFA Futsal World Cup, the fifth spot for Asia would be determined by a playoff bracket featuring the quarterfinal losers. Việt Nam will first face Kyrgyzstan, who lost 1-6 to Iran in the quarters, in the first round on Friday. VNS
OVietnam