In a pivotal moment that decided the fate of U23 Vietnam at the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2024, goalkeeper Quan Van Chuan has owned up to the mistake that led to their 0-1 defeat against U23 Iraq in the quarterfinals.
The decisive moment came in the 59th minute when a throw-in from Iraq was sent close to the 5.5-meter box. Quan Van Chuan rushed out to intercept but collided with the Iraqi forward Nihad Mohammed. The referee, after consulting VAR, awarded a penalty to Iraq, which Ali Jasim converted, scoring the game’s only goal at Al Janoub Stadium.
Reflecting on the match, Quan Van Chuan admitted, “Our defense and I did not coordinate well, leading to this critical error. It was my personal mistake that led to the penalty against us.”
Further challenges were presented in the match’s dying minutes when Chuan was again outpaced in an aerial duel with Karrar Saad. Initially, a penalty was called but was overturned after VAR review confirmed an offside position by the Iraqi player.
Iraq dominated the game with 61.9% possession and made 18 attempts on goal, eight of which were on target. Chuan remarked on Iraq’s strategy, “Iraq mostly played long balls. We managed to block them most of the time, but a crucial error cost us.”
Vietnam, on their part, managed eight shots, with only one on target, reflecting the struggle they had in breaking down the Iraqi defense. The passing accuracy stood at 61.9%, significantly lower than Iraq’s 77.5%. The situation worsened in the second half’s injury time when 19-year-old defender Nguyen Manh Hung received a direct red card after a foul on Ali Jasim.
Vietnam’s journey ended in the quarterfinals, quashing their hopes for a spot at the Paris 2024 Olympics. A clearly emotional Chuan concluded, “I am deeply disappointed that we couldn’t achieve our goal of qualifying for the Olympics.”
Iraq will now face Japan in the semifinals, while Uzbekistan will meet Indonesia, with both matches scheduled for April 29 in Doha.
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