HCM CITY (VNS)— Viet Nam kept its hopes of qualifying for the knockout stage of the Asian Futsal Championships alive after a resounding 10-4 victory over Tajikistan yesterday.

Phung Trong Luan, Nguyen Bao Quan and Ngo Ngoc Son each scored a double, while Ly Khanh Hung, Tran Van Vu, Le Quoc Nam and Pham Duc Hoa scored one each for the home team.

For Tajikistan, Jumaev Alisher scored a double and Makhmudov Khurshed and Mamedbabaev Mansur scored a goal apiece.

The win pushed Viet Nam to second place with three points after a loss and a win, but to reach the last eight, Coach Bruno Formoso's players have to defeat Kuwait in the last group match tomorrow at Phu Tho Stadium.

"I am very happy with our players. They worked hard, created chances and scored," said Formoso.

"Kuwait is a very good team. They played in the World Cup, and their players are very experienced. It will be a tough game for us," the Spaniard said, adding, that a win with a one-goal gap is enough for Viet Nam to go through.

With two losses in two games, Tajikistan has already been eliminated from the tournament, and the final game against Iraq is just a formality.

Kuwait previously beat Iraq 5-3 in the second match at Phu Tho Stadium in HCM City, to top the Group A table with six points after two games.

Kuwait faces Viet Nam in the last match of the group and needs only one point to go through.

"We are yet to qualify for the next round, so in the last match against Viet Nam, we will field the strongest squad. Moreover, Viet Nam is a strong team, and if we lose to them with a gap of two goals we might be in trouble," Kuwait's Spanish coach, Luis Fonseca, said at the post-match conference.

Meanwhile, the loss makes it even more difficult for the Iraqis to qualify. They had beaten Viet Nam 2-1 in the opening game. Coach Haitham Abbas Bawei's team must win the last match against Tajikistan to go beyond the group stage.

"The loss makes it more difficult for us to qualify because we have no option but to beat Tajikistan to keep our hopes alive," Iraq's coach said.

In other matches in Group B, Iran crushed China 12-0 and Australia beat Indonesia 5-0. — VNS