Vietnam sent a powerful message in their opening match of the final qualifying round for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, thrashing Laos 5-0 in front of a roaring home crowd at Go Dau Stadium on Tuesday.
Backed by over 11,000 passionate fans in southern Vietnam, the Golden Star Warriors wasted no time asserting their dominance. Chau Ngoc Quang opened the scoring in the 11th minute, capitalizing on a defensive error to tap home an easy finish and ignite the stands.
The pressure kept mounting, and just before halftime, Vietnam doubled their lead. After Nguyen Hai Long’s strike rattled the crossbar, Nguyen Van Vi was perfectly positioned to head the rebound into the net in the 44th minute. He wasn’t done yet—just five minutes into the second half, Van Vi dazzled the defense with a solo run and cool finish, bringing the score to 3-0.
Vietnam’s relentless attack continued. In the 63rd minute, Nguyen Hai Long joined the scoresheet with a precise long-range effort that left the Laos goalkeeper no chance. Then came the cherry on top: star midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai, coming off the bench, volleyed in a beautiful goal from a Nguyen Hoang Duc assist to seal the 5-0 rout in the 84th minute.
Laos had a few bright moments, notably a powerful long shot from Damoth Thongkhamsavath in the 52nd minute, but never truly threatened Vietnam’s goal.
With this emphatic win, Vietnam not only bagged three crucial points but also set the tone for what promises to be an exciting qualifying campaign. Up next: a highly anticipated clash with regional rival Malaysia in June.
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Source: Vietnam Insider