Vietnam U17 secured their first-ever World Cup qualification after a dramatic 3-2 victory over UAE U17.
After a thrilling match against UAE U17, the Vietnam U17 team officially secured a spot in the FIFA U17 World Cup for the first time in history.
The Vietnam U17 team made history for Vietnamese football after an emotional comeback victory against the UAE U17 team with a score of 3-2. This result not only propelled coach Cristiano Roland's team into the quarterfinals of the AFC U17 Championship but also officially secured them a prestigious ticket to the FIFA U17 World Cup.
A challenging beginning and the strength to overcome adversity.
The match unfolded with an unbelievable scenario right from the first few seconds. Before the spectators in the stadium had even settled into their seats, goalkeeper Xuan Hoa's net was already shaking in the 16th second. Sultan Nasir Al Mheiri took advantage of the chaos in the penalty area to score from close range, giving the UAE U17 team the lead.
Despite conceding the earliest goal of the tournament, the young Vietnamese players maintained remarkable composure. Under the guidance of coach Cristiano Roland, the Vietnamese team gradually regained control of the tempo and exerted continuous pressure. In the 41st minute, Chu Ngoc Nguyen Luc executed a superb free-kick, sending the ball into the far corner, leaving the UAE defense helpless and leveling the score at 1-1 before the first half ended.
The young warriors' explosive performance in the second half.
In the second half, the Vietnam U17 team played with great enthusiasm and quickly capitalized on their advantage. In the 48th minute, following a tactical pass from Dai Nhan, Minh Thuy rushed in and decisively finished from the second line, raising the score to 2-1. However, the drama continued to escalate when the UAE U17 team found an equalizer in the 55th minute through Adam Mahrous, making the score 2-2.
Unwilling to accept a draw, the Vietnam U17 team continued to push forward in search of a decisive goal. In the 69th minute, from a corner kick on the right wing, Mạnh Cường rose high to deliver a powerful header, securing a thrilling 3-2 victory for the Southeast Asian representatives.
Goal statistics and results
| Team | Score | Goal scorer |
|---|---|---|
| Vietnam U17 | 3 | Chu Ngoc Nguyen Luc (41'), Minh Thuy (48'), Manh Cuong (69') |
| UAE U17 | 2 | Sultan Nasir Al Mheiri (1'), Adam Mahrous (55') |
The impressive performance against the UAE U17 team demonstrated the remarkable maturity of the young Vietnamese players under the guidance of the Portuguese strategist. Their first-ever appearance at the World Cup at the U17 level is a well-deserved reward for their tireless efforts, promising to open a new chapter for the future of Vietnamese football.