A 1-2 defeat to Uzbeksitan in the quarterfinals of the 2024 Asian Futsal Championship forced the Vietnamese futsal team to compete in the play-off round to compete for the final ticket to the 2024 Futsal World Cup.
Vietnamese futsal players are full of confidence to approach the match. After just one minute of the ball rolling, Tu Minh Quang and Chau Doan Phat respectively had the opportunity to score towards Uzbekistan’s goal. After that, the representative from Central Asia regained the match. In the 5th minute, the opponent had the first dangerous opportunity, when Akhmetzyanov escaped to face goalkeeper Ho Van Y but sent the ball wide of the post.
Having escaped defeat, the Vietnamese futsal team tightened its defense system. Despite facing great pressure that Uzbekistan created in the remaining time of the first half, Pham Duc Hoa and his teammates still managed to preserve the net. In particular, Van Y’s excellence won four times against strong shots from Ropiev, Akhmetzyanov, Khamroev and goalkeeper El Murodov.
The Vietnamese futsal team chose to play defensively but proactively. Thanks to that, Coach Giustozzi’s students created “delicious” opportunities. In the 13th minute, Thai Huy kicked the ball for Duc Hoa to escape down the left wing but ended up facing the goalkeeper. Three minutes later, with a similar attack, Manh Dung crossed for Thinh Phat to cushion the ball and hit Uzbekistan’s post.
And the efforts of the Vietnamese futsal players paid off in the 18th minute. From the corner on the left wing, Thinh Phat quickly took the opportunity to score the opening goal. The goal not only relieved pressure on the 27-year-old striker but also gave the whole team more confidence when entering the second half.
Uzbekistan still pressed the field when the second half returned. But the first dangerous opportunity of this match belonged to the Vietnamese futsal players. In the 24th minute, Thai Huy coordinated for Duc Hoa to finish, causing Uzbekistan’s goalkeeper to fly as far as he could to block the shot. A minute later, Akhmetzyanov from Uzbekistan responded with a shot that hit Van Y’s goal post.
The tense battle continued to be created by both sides. In the 29th minute, Nguyen Anh Duy shot the ball and hit the crossbar of Uzbekistan’s goal. About the last 8 minutes of the match, the pressure from the representatives from Central Asia increased on the Vietnamese futsal team. Finally, they scored a 1-1 equalizer in the 34th minute. From a corner kick on the left wing, Ropiev shot the ball, hitting the crossbar and flying into Van Y’s net.
Uzbekistan’s equalizing goal made the match more exciting at the end of the second half. Berkinov and Minh Quang of the two teams respectively hit the ball into each other’s goal post. It seemed like the two teams would drag the match into extra time, but with just over a minute left, Juraev quickly scored a goal from a tight corner, sealing a 3-2 comeback win for Uzbekistan. Representatives from Central Asia burst into tears when they won the right to play in the semi-finals of the 2024 Asian Futsal Championship.
While Duc Hoa and his teammates went down to participate in the play-off round to compete for the remaining ticket to the Futsal World Cup 2024. According to the match schedule, the Vietnamese futsal team met Kyrgyzstan at 4 pm on April 26. If they pass this match, the whole team will meet the winner of the match between Iraq and Afghanistan. If the triumphant song continues, Giustozzi and his team will officially attend the big festival of world futsal.
HUU THANH
Tags: Vietnam Futsal participates playoff compete tickets Futsal World Cup
