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Jan 31, 2018 / 16:39

Vietnam's goal against Uzbekistan tops AFC poll

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC)’s website has opened a poll to elect the Best Goal of the AFC U23 Championship.

There were a number of sensational strikes at the AFC U23 Championship China 2018. The poll for the Best Goal of the AFC U23 Championship is your chance to vote for the most phenomenal.
Currently, the goal of Vietnamese midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai in the finals against Uzbekistan has 64% of the votes. Meanwhile, the goal scored by Quang Hai in the semifinals against Qatar has 23% of the votes.

 
Quang Hai's goal against Uzbekistan tops AFC poll.
Quang Hai's goal against Uzbekistan tops AFC poll.
Vietnam’s U23 squad failed to grasp their historic AFC championship title after succumbing to a narrow 1-2 defeat to Uzbekistan in the finals on January 27. However, with their brave fighting spirit unabated until the last minute, Park Hang-Seo’s players have become the victors in the hearts of millions of football lovers.
This was the first time a Vietnamese national team has made it to the finals of a continental championship, attracting attention from football fans across the globe. In the snowy conditions at the Changzhou Olympic Sports Center, it was Uzbek defender Rustamjon Ashurmatov who scored first with a header in the 8th minute.
More than half an hour later, Vietnamese midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai equalized with a free kick. It was his fifth goal at the championship, making him one of the top scorers.
The match remained level in the second half, forcing the teams into extra time. In the 120th minute, Uzbek striker Andrey Sidorov scored the game-winning second goal, seizing the crown for Uzbekistan.
On their website, AFC has predicted a positive future for the Vietnamese U23 football players who got the silver medal at the AFC U23 Championship in China.
AFC also described Vietnam as “penalty kings,” stating: “Vietnam led the way in penalties conceded by giving away three, two of which were converted, in their six games. The Southeast Asians ended up spot-kick kings after emerging victorious from the tournament’s only two penalty shootouts.”