Vietnam defeated Guam 3-0 on the evening of September 25, securing their second consecutive victory and taking the lead in Group A of the 2025 AFC U20 Asian Cup qualifiers.
Vietnam was expected to dominate Guam, and the match at Lach Tray Stadium reflected that. In the first half, the ball was mostly in Guam’s half as they packed their defense near the 16m50 area. Vietnam adjusted by focusing on wing attacks, especially down the right flank where SLNA player Long Vu was particularly active. His frequent dribbles and crosses put pressure on the Guam defense. In the 11th minute, he delivered a well-placed cross, but Nguyen Le Phat’s header went over the bar.
Vietnam kept increasing the pressure, and in the 23rd minute, they broke the deadlock. Long Vu once again beat his marker Levi Berg and sent a cross into the box, which hit Dane Agustin’s hand, leading to a penalty. On the spot, Le Phat coolly slotted the ball to the right, sending goalkeeper Josiah Jones the wrong way to give Vietnam the lead.
Vietnam maintained control after the goal, but their offensive plays weren’t sharp enough to penetrate Guam’s packed defense. However, just before halftime, Vietnam extended their lead. In the second minute of stoppage time, a free kick from just outside the box was taken by Cong Phuong, who surprised everyone by sending a low shot into the far corner, leaving Josiah Jones rooted to the spot.
This marked Cong Phuong’s third goal in the tournament, having scored twice in Vietnam’s 5-0 win over Bhutan in their opening match.
In the second half, Vietnam quickly gained another advantage when Guam’s goalkeeper Josiah Jones was shown a red card for a dangerous challenge outside the box on Hoang Minh Tien in the 57th minute.
With a man advantage, Vietnam dominated possession, with the ball staying mostly in Guam’s defensive third. However, despite numerous chances, Vietnam failed to convert. Cong Phuong, Le Phat, and Dang Duong all missed clear opportunities.
Coach Hua Hien Vinh introduced Huu Tien and Hoang Khanh in the final 10 minutes to refresh the attack, and the change paid off. In stoppage time, Huu Tien found space between two defenders to head home a cross, sealing the 3-0 win.
This victory put Vietnam back on top of Group A, level with Syria on six points but ahead on goal difference (8 to 5). In the next round on September 27, Vietnam will face Bangladesh, while Syria takes on Guam.
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