Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam’s Olympic football team received plaudits frominternational media after creating football history for the second time thisyear.
BeatingSyria 1-0 in the Asian Games (ASIAD) 2018 quarterfinal on August 27, the teamsecured a spot in the men’s semi-final.
“Theyhave done it again”, Fox Sports Asia posted on its Facebook page minutes afterVietnam’s win over the Middle East country.
Onits website, Fox Sports Asia complimented Nguyen Van Toan’s goal while extollinga long ball from defender Bui Tien Dung which gave Nguyen Anh Duc a gloriouschance. Although Duc’s deft flick came back off the bar, substitute Toan “wasperfectly placed to finish into the unguarded net”.
Italso said that taking on the Republic of Korea (RoK), who had 14 goals in fourgames, is another “tough test” awaiting Park Hang-seo’s team.
Headlined “Super sub Van Toan strikes to take Vietnam through”,the piece on the Asian Football Confederation (AFC)’s home page said that Syriahad the lion’s share of possession and tested Vietnamese goalkeeper Bui TienDung many times. However, with a “solid defence”, the Vietnamese players keptboth teams searching for goals.
The article also highlighted Park’s efficient tactics, whichhelped the team advance to the quarter-finals without conceding a single goal.
Vietnam’s football team also gained attention from Korean media viaimages of the squad, coach Park Hang-seo, and fans across Vietnam storming thestreets to celebrate victory over Syria.
KBS news described the jubilant atmosphere of Vietnam’s streets which wereturned into festivals by fans. Hundreds of motorbikes and national flags appearedon the streets to celebrate Vietnam’s maiden Asian Games semi-final, it said.
Meanwhile, Yonhap News wrote “Vietnam football coach Park Hang-seo found himself in anawkward position after his side beat Syria 1-0 in their quarter-final match atthe 18th Asian Games on Monday”, referencing the fact his side next take on hishome country of the RoK in the semi-final on August 29.-VNA