Ho Chi Minh City, 14 October 2025 – Vietnam secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Nepal in difficult weather conditions at Thong Nhat Stadium on October 14, with the only goal coming from an own goal by defender Suman Srestha, as coach Kim Sang Sik’s side continued to struggle in front of goal despite dominating play.
Vietnam endured another challenging match against 176th-ranked Nepal, winning just 1-0 in their return leg at Thong Nhat Stadium. Despite creating numerous chances and hitting the post three times, the home side’s only goal came from an own goal early in the game, highlighting their ongoing finishing struggles.
Heavy rain before kickoff delayed the match by 30 minutes, and the soaked pitch made ball control difficult for both teams. Large puddles formed, particularly inside Vietnam’s penalty area, disrupting the flow of play. In the opening minutes, Nepal nearly capitalized on a defensive lapse when Manish Dangi broke through, but a waterlogged surface halted the ball before he could shoot past goalkeeper Tran Trung Kien.
Coach Kim Sang Sik handed first starts to several young players, including 22-year-old goalkeeper Tran Trung Kien (1.91 m, from Hoang Anh Gia Lai), defender Nguyen Hieu Minh (21, from PVF-CAND), and forward Nguyen Thanh Nhan (22). The new additions impressed, with Trung Kien keeping a clean sheet and Hieu Minh playing a key role in Vietnam’s winning goal.
In the fifth minute, from a left-side corner by Truong Tien Anh, Hieu Minh’s header at the far post deflected off Nepal defender Suman Srestha and into the net, giving Vietnam an early lead. Five minutes later, striker Nguyen Tien Linh showcased his skill inside the box, but his curling effort struck the junction of the post and crossbar. Thanh Nhan and Nguyen Dinh Bac also hit the woodwork in each half, as luck deserted the Vietnamese attackers.
Statistically, Vietnam held the advantage in every aspect — ranking 114th in the FIFA standings, 62 places above Nepal, and possessing a squad valued at USD 5.7 million, nearly triple Nepal’s USD 2.2 million, according to Transfermarkt. The Elo ranking system also reflected Vietnam’s superiority, with the team sitting 132nd out of 244, compared to Nepal’s 196th.
Despite these advantages, head coach Kim Sang Sik was visibly frustrated on the sidelines, often sighing or looking skyward in disappointment at missed chances. Nepal, for their part, showed resilience and managed to threaten Vietnam’s goal on two occasions but failed to capitalize.
This match was technically a “home” fixture for Nepal, who hosted it in Ho Chi Minh City due to political instability in their country. Meanwhile, Vietnam needed a win to stay in contention at the top of Group F. In the group’s other fixture, Malaysia came from behind to defeat Laos 5-1 at Bukit Jalil, maintaining their lead with nine points.
Vietnam now sit second with the same number of points but trail Malaysia by three. However, if FIFA confirms Malaysia’s use of ineligible naturalized players in previous matches against Nepal and Vietnam, coach Kim’s squad could move to first place.
Vietnam will next travel to Vientiane to face Laos on November 19, while Malaysia will meet Nepal one day earlier. With three matches remaining, every point will be crucial as Vietnam aim to secure their place in the 2027 AFC Asian Cup finals.
Thanh Trang – Hong Phuc
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