Vietnam Overpowers Nepal 3-1 in AFC Asian Cup Qualifier

Nepal suffered a 3-1 defeat against Vietnam in their AFC Asian Cup Qualifier match, marking their third consecutive loss in the campaign. The result, played out at a packed stadium in Vietnam, has significantly dented Nepal’s hopes of advancing to the next round.

Early Setback and Nepal’s Response

Vietnam seized the lead in the 9th minute, capitalizing on Nepal’s shaky defense. Trung Tien An’s precise pass found Nguyen Hai Long, who slotted home from inside the box. Nepal, however, fought back in the 17th minute when defender Sanish Shrestha headed in a well-directed free-kick from Rohan Karki, leveling the score at 1-1. This was Shrestha’s first goal for the national team and Nepal’s first-ever goal against Vietnam in their third encounter.

Nepal Reduced to Ten Men

The first half took a turn for the worse in stoppage time when Nepal’s midfielder Laken Limbu was shown a red card for a foul on Nguyen Hai near the penalty area, leaving Nepal with ten players. Despite the setback, the teams went into the break level at 1-1.

Vietnam’s Second-Half Surge

The second half saw Vietnam dominate. Nepal’s goalkeeper Kiran Chemjong made two stunning saves in the 62nd and 66th minutes, keeping his side in the game. However, Vietnam broke through in the 67th minute when a corner from Trung Tien was poorly cleared by Nepal’s Mani Lama, allowing an unmarked Pham Xuan Manh to head in, making it 2-1. Five minutes later, in the 72nd minute, Nguyen Hai’s long-range strike was parried by Kiran, but Nguyen Van Vi pounced on the rebound to score from close range, with Shrestha failing to mark him effectively.

In stoppage time, Vietnam’s Nguyen Huu Minh found the net, but the goal was disallowed for offside. The match ended 3-1, marking Nepal’s third defeat to Vietnam in AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers, following 5-0 and 2-0 losses in 2004.

Nepal’s Struggles Continue

With three losses in three matches—previously falling 2-1 to Laos and 2-0 to Malaysia—Nepal remain pointless in the group. Vietnam, meanwhile, move to six points. Nepal face an uphill battle as they prepare to take on Vietnam again on October 14 in Hanoi.