Ho Chi Minh City, 9 October 2025 – Despite playing with a man advantage for an entire half against a Nepal side ranked 62 places lower in FIFA rankings, Vietnam had to wait until the second half to secure a 3-1 win, thanks to goals from defenders Pham Xuan Manh and Nguyen Van Vi at Go Dau Stadium.
Vietnam faced more resistance than expected before eventually overcoming Nepal 3-1 in their 2027 Asian Cup qualifying match at Go Dau Stadium. Although coach Kim Sang Sik’s side controlled the game for most of the night, they only managed to seal victory in the second half with goals from two defenders — Pham Xuan Manh and Nguyen Van Vi — ensuring the team kept all three points on home soil.
The hosts started brightly and took the lead in the ninth minute. From a precise cross by Truong Tien Anh on the right wing, striker Nguyen Tien Linh controlled the ball neatly before finishing into the far corner — his 26th international goal for Vietnam. However, the advantage didn’t last long. In the 17th minute, Nepal equalized when Sanish Shrestha rose above Do Duy Manh to head home from a left-sided free kick, scoring Nepal’s first-ever goal against Vietnam in history.
After conceding, Vietnam pushed forward aggressively but were wasteful in front of goal. Midfielders Hai Long and Hoang Duc, along with striker Tien Linh, all had dangerous attempts denied by goalkeeper Kiran Limbu. On the sidelines, coach Kim Sang Sik appeared frustrated with his team’s lack of creativity and finishing precision.
The turning point came late in the first half when Hai Long broke free and was brought down from behind by Nepal’s Laken Limbu, who received a straight red card. The sending-off gave Vietnam a numerical advantage, which they capitalized on after the break.
In the 67th minute, Vietnam finally restored their lead. Following a corner from the left, the Nepal goalkeeper’s clearance landed perfectly at Pham Xuan Manh’s feet. The 29-year-old defender took one touch before striking decisively with his left foot to make it 2-1 — his first-ever goal for the national team. His emotional celebration showed how much the moment meant to him.
Just five minutes later, Hoang Duc curled a long-range effort that forced Limbu into a save, but Nguyen Van Vi reacted quickest to fire in the rebound, sealing a 3-1 victory. The shot took a slight bounce, catching the goalkeeper off guard. It marked Van Vi’s fifth goal for Vietnam in just ten months — four of which have come at Go Dau Stadium. The 27-year-old celebrated by tucking the ball under his shirt, a trademark gesture of his joy.
As the home team extended their lead, thousands of fans lit up the stadium with their phone flashlights, creating a dazzling atmosphere in the stands. Despite the comfortable advantage, Vietnam continued to attack, with substitutes Nguyen Duc Chien, Nguyen Thanh Nhan, and Nguyen Dinh Bac all eager to add their names to the scoresheet. Thanh Nhan even found the net in stoppage time, but his goal was ruled out.
With this victory, Vietnam remain second in Group F with six points, behind Malaysia, who lead with nine. However, Malaysia are at risk of being handed a 0-3 forfeit loss to Vietnam for fielding seven ineligible naturalized players in their previous encounter.
Vietnam will next face Nepal again on October 12, with the South Asian side continuing to use Thong Nhat Stadium in Ho Chi Minh City as their temporary home ground for the return fixture.
Hong Phuc
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