The victory was defined after Vietnam beat Iraq 5-3 in the penalty shootout after a 3-3 draw on January 20 in Changsu, China.
“Iraq went into the game in confident mood after topping Group D and dictated the opening exchanges but, with Vietnam’s defensive discipline to the fore in the early exchanges, there was little Abdulghani Shahad’s side could do to find a way through,” said an article on the AFC website on the event.
Thailand’s Siam Sports newspaper highlighted that Vietnam has become the first Southeast Asian country to reach the game’s final to date. The victory showed that the team is capable of defeating top countries in the region, it said.
Vietnam made history in Southeast Asia after beating 2013 champion Iraq in a way that no one could ever image, an ESPN’s website praised.
Football Indonesia wrote in a tweet that Vietnam is now heading toward the final after a remarkable 5-3 win against Iraq.
Vietnam, the only ASEAN country in the continental tournament’s last-four round, will next play Qatar on January 23.
