Vietnam's under-23s were stunned by Turkmenistan 6-2 in their second
match in the Asian Games on Nov. 10.
The loss saw Vietnam, who beat Bahrain 3-1 on Nov. 8, plunge to
third place in Group B.
Turkmenistan, who lost 4-1 to Iran,
stand second; ahead of Vietnam
with a better goal difference.
Vietnam would have qualified for the last 16 if they had beaten Turkmenistan in
the match at Guangdong People's Stadium on Nov. 10. But the Vietnamese team
defence collapsed in their worst performance in recent years, while the
strikers missed a dozen clear-cut chances to score before half time.
The central Asian
team took a first half 2-0 lead after Serda and Aleksandra waltzed through the
Vietnamese back four.
Vietnam's Pham Thanh Luong, Ngoc Dieu and Anh Duc
all failed to make their close-range chances count.
Turkmenistan nullified Vietnam's
U-23s by bypassing midfield with a judicious use of the long ball, and stoutly
defended their lead through to half time.
Five minutes into
the second half, Belyh Maksim headed home the third goal for the central Asian
team from a corner kick before Arslanmyrat broke down the left flank to net the
ball on the 60th minute mark.
Arslanmyrat and his
team-mate Aleksandr Bolyan both unmarked, scored on the 72nd and 82nd minute.
Trong Hoang pulled
back a goal for Vietnam
on the 85th minute, before Anh Duc netted the ball with a close finish.
Duc also missed five
goal scoring chances in the second half.
Iran
played Bahrain
in a late match on Nov. 10.
Vietnam must win defeat powerhouses Iran in their last match on Nov. 13
if they want to qualify for the knock-out round.
under-23s tournament, with the top two and four of the best third-placed sides
from the six groups advancing to the final 16./.
