Just Four Things: Jordan Vs. Vietnam
Credit- Fox Sports Asia
The Adventure Continues
This is euphoria like never before for Vietnam. The way they achieved it is nothing new for at least more than half the squad, but what they achieved was definitely very new to them. For the first time in their history, they won a knockout round in the Asia Cup and are through to the quarter-finals.
The manner of winning this match is very familiar: A penalty shootout. A lot of the players in the Vietnam squad were used to this. After all, that’s how they got into the final of last year’s U-23 Asia Cup where they went through two shootouts in the quarters & semis before cruelly losing to a last-minute winner in extra time to Uzbekistan in the final. Vietnam though could’ve won it in normal time had they converted a huge mass of their chances, but they felt they deserve it in the end after a thoroughly entertaining match.
The moment defender Bui Tien Dung converted the final spot-kick was the very moment to the whole of Vietnam erupt with jubilation. They knew it was going to be tough given the quality has amped up, but a quarter-final place, especially with such a young team, is possibly beyond their imaginations. This team, with an average age of 22, is taking flight and maybe, just maybe, they can match the heavyweights within a few years as they became the sole ASEAN representative left in the competition.
Stunners!
Both the goals though scored in normal time came in such spectacular fashion. Jordan won an indirect free-kick inside the box that awarded in confusing circumstances for most people (it will be explained next). If a team wants to score from that position, the taker has to take a touch first so that his closest teammate can take his chance. That’s exactly how Jordan scored and what a goal it was. The free-kick on the right-wing was laid off nearby for Baha Abdelrahman, who lashed it into the far post that left Vietnam goalkeeper Dang Van Lam no chance.
But Vietnam replied with an astounding goal of their own. You couldn’t ask from a better cross from Nguyen Trong Hoang where it went past everyone except, most crucially, Nguyen Cong Phuong who was able to unleash a powerful effort before on-form Jordan goalkeeper Amer Shafi could react. How Vietnam only scored one is anyone’s guess in the second half.
Penalty? Not Exactly
What transpired moments before Jordan’s first goal perhaps have left most heads scratching. A high boot on a Jordan player sees Alireza Faghani giving an indirect free-kick inside the box instead of the penalty. Now the question is: Did Alireza made the right call there? The answer? Yes. Here’s the explanation. According to the Laws Of The Game, an indirect free-kick can be given inside the box for three reasons against a player:
Plays in a dangerous manner
Impedes the progress of an opponent
Prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from his hands
What went down in that incident, Alireza got it spot on. The high boot didn’t connect the player, but was deemed to be enough for Alireza that the challenge was in a dangerous manner. Had it made contact, it would’ve been a penalty. This kind of decision happened before in a 2012 La Liga match between Real Madrid & Sevilla when a Sevilla defender attempted to clear a cross and he did so just barely missing Cristiano Ronaldo’s head as the Portugese superstar was looking to head it. You learn something new everyday.
One Day Then…
This Jordan team is nothing to write off about. They stunned Australia and won their group in their first ever appearance in the Asia Cup. Jordan & Vietnam came from the same 3rd round qualifying group and both their group games ended in draws so it should be no surprise that this match, it ended the way it was. The fact that Vietnam can match, let alone dominate this Jordan team in a large spell is down to hard work over in their country in developing their players via academies.
But what about us over here in Malaysia? We showed great progress in the AFF Suzuki Cup by getting far to the final, only to be beaten by a far more technical Vietnam. We can’t help but feel some envy that Vietnam, Thailand and even the Philippines are in the UAE to square off with the best Asia has to offer. Under Tan Cheng Hoe, we’ve seen the best football Malaysia displayed in years. We can’t help but feel we’re on the right path. If we keep on this path and hopefully facing not many obstacles, we’ll surely be there in the Asian Cup one day.