Losing 6-0 to South Korea in the opening match, Viet Nam must beat Japan to maintain hopes of qualifying for the quarter-finals.— Photo bongdaplus

HCM CITY (VNS) — Viet Nam and Japan will have to battle it out today to survive in their second Group C match following opening defeats at the AFC Under-19 Football Championships at the Wunna Theikdi Stadium in Myanmar's capital of Naypyitaw.

Losing 6-0 to South Korea in the opening match, Viet Nam must beat Japan to maintain hopes of qualifying for the quarter-finals.

The task will be even more difficult for French coach Graechen Gullauime and his players when Japan, which unexpectedly suffered a 2-1 defeat by China, will have no choice but to beat Viet Nam to avoid an early exit.

The two teams have met three times in recent friendly tournaments, with Japan coming out on top in all three occasions.

Since 2002, Viet Nam has qualified for six tournaments but has never gone beyond the group stage.

In the other match of the group, South Korea will take on China in a match in which the winner will be in a commanding position to reach the last eight. — VNS