Posted on 01/26/2018 5:52:48 AM PST by cba123
January 24 – Vietnam booked a place in the final of the AFC U-23 Championship against Uzbekistan defeating Qatar in the semi-finals on penalties.
Akram Afif, who plies his trade at KAS Eupen in Belgium, opened the score for the Qataris from the penalty spot after Almoez Ali had been dragged down inside the penalty box. In the 69th minute Nguyen Quang Hai equalized after a blunder in Qatar’s defence. Bassam Al-Rawi and Ahmad Moein allowed Hai too much space.
Qatar seemed to have won the game when Almoez Ali scored late on, but there was to be a twist in the tale as Hai pulled Vietnam’s second goal back a minute later with an excellent long-range effort.
In the penalty shoot-out Vietnam prevailed 4-3. On Saturday, the Vietnamese had eliminated Iraq with penalties as well.
The win caused widespread celebrations in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and across Vietnam as hundreds of thousands, if not millions, took to the streets to celebrate the achievements of their young fellow countrymen.
(full article at link)
(Excerpt) Read more at insideworldfootball.com ...
I know FR is based in the USA.
I know there is a history with Vietnam, which leaves some hard feelings among some, even now.
I know all of those things. But the country here, is completely over any hard feelings toward America. For real. And this country incidentally, seems to be almost completely, truly free of racism. First place I have ever seen that.
Anywhere.
But that is not why I am posting. I am posting because tomorrow is the finals, of the AFC U23 soccer final. The game tomorrow is the finals, again.
Uzbekistan, is facing off against Vietnam.
The public support here in Vietnam, is completely off the charts.
If you happen to catch it on TV somewhere, understand the game in about 18 hours, is for the championship.
I know, it's not real football. But then again, it's not the NFL either.
(sorry)
Woot!
is this about soccer?
Right. Soccer.
I had to explain to someone today, about American football.
Soccer is what the rest of the world calls football.
Go Vietnam!!
Yes, soccer. You know: the sport where you watch athletes playing uninterrupted 45 minute halves, as opposed to the other football where you spend three hours watching six minutes of game play, and two hours anf fifty four minutes of commercials and commentary.
That’s why I love Hockey!
Some of you freepers sound so ignorant. Maybe cause you are about soccer. American soccer is moronic and boring, I agree. World soccer, oth, is so much more exciting to watch than felons running around chasing pigskin.
Oh sorry.
I am just posting this because Vietnam is in the finals, tomorrow Asia time.
I see the problem here. The Qataris didn’t offer a big enough bribe to the Vietnam players.
I just got back from Vietnam yesterday and had been dining downtown that day when the roars started during the penalties. Then the whole area exploded in a sea of red flags and hours of scooters and motorcycles going around the central square. Quite the atmosphere!
Seems to me the average Vietnamese today doesn’t give a flip about Ho Chi Minh, they just basically ignore the government and live their own lives.
Was in Saigon/HCM
Must be nice.
Soccer is called “football” in the rest of the countries of the world where it is much more popular than in the USA. So to differentiate here in the USA, soccer should be rightfully known as “Shithole Football”.
Absolutely right. People under 47 have no memory of the war, and pay no attention to the government. The black market thrives, tax evasion is a national sport, and capitalism abounds in every street and down every alley. People just want to feed their families, get the kids an education, and many want to relocate to Australia or North America to get away from the traffic congestion and air pollution.
Yup.
People are really into this. Game is at 3pm today, it is now going on 6am.
Just woke up.
Ok good game thus far. It is halftime, and the score is tied at one each.
And it’s snowing.
Hard.
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