Vietnam's Olympic team lost to UAE on penalties, missing out on the bronze medal at the Asian Games.

Compared to the match against South Korea, coach Park Hang-seo made three changes to the starting lineup for the clash against UAE. Xuan Manh replaced Dinh Trong in the three-man defense. On the left wing, Van Hau returned after his suspension and filled Xuan Manh's position. Van Quyet started in place of Xuan Truong, and Van Toan made his first start in place of Phan Van Duc. The central midfield duo consisted of Duc Huy and Quang Hai.

The Vietnamese Olympic team started proactively. Coach Park Hang-seo's players didn't hesitate to push forward to threaten the UAE's goal. In the second minute, Van Thanh unleashed a powerful shot from 30 meters, forcing goalkeeper Alshamsi to make a diving save. In the 13th minute, Doan Van Hau also had a long-range shot that went just wide of the post from a pass by Quang Hai.

Despite having the upper hand, Vietnam unexpectedly conceded a goal in the 17th minute. Following a misplaced pass from Van Thanh to Quang Hai, Alhashmi Ahmad intercepted the ball, sprinted into the center, and unleashed a diagonal shot that beat goalkeeper Bui Tien Dung. Buoyed by the opening goal, UAE launched a series of dangerous attacks towards Vietnam's goal.

A play by Minh Vương.

In the 20th minute, Aldarmki Shaheen unleashed a shot from 20 meters out, sending the ball just wide of the post. Shortly after, following another misplaced pass from Van Thanh, UAE launched a quick counter-attack. Almesmari took a shot from a tight angle, but the ball went wide of the goal.

Just two minutes after UAE's missed opportunity, Vietnam unexpectedly equalized 1-1. Van Toan skillfully dribbled past a UAE defender and passed to Anh Duc. The Binh Duong striker's shot deflected to Van Quyet, and the Hanoi FC forward easily finished from close range into the UAE net. In the remaining minutes of the first half, Vietnam created several more good chances, but shots from Van Thanh, Bui Tien Dung, and Quang Hai lacked accuracy.

Entering the second half, both Vietnam and UAE played with an open style. In the 46th minute, UAE launched a quick counter-attack following Xuan Manh's shot deflecting off an opposing defender inside the penalty area. Receiving a pass from a teammate, substitute striker Alameri unleashed a powerful shot, but the ball went wide of the post. A few minutes later, it was Almesmari's turn to threaten Vietnam's goal with a long-range shot that went over the crossbar.

In the 59th minute, Vietnam responded with a dribble by Xuan Manh on the left wing, who then passed the ball to Quang Hai. The Hanoi FC midfielder unleashed a one-touch shot, but the ball deflected off a UAE defender. The game then shifted completely in Vietnam's favor. Coach Park Hang-seo's players continuously pressed towards the UAE goal but lacked accuracy in their final touches. In the 68th minute, from a pass by Quang Hai, Duc Chinh broke through the penalty area and fired a shot from a tight angle, but failed to beat goalkeeper Alshamsi.

For the last 20 minutes of the match, both teams maintained a moderate pace. Vietnam remained the dominant team, but UAE concentrated a large number of players in their own half to ensure the safety of goalkeeper Alshamsi's goal.

In the 87th minute, Phan Văn Đức forced the UAE goalkeeper to make two saves to control his powerful shot from about 25 meters. Immediately afterwards, Xuân Mạnh missed a golden opportunity to put Vietnam ahead. From a corner kick on the left wing taken by Minh Vương, Xuân Mạnh rose high to head the ball in an open position, but it went over the crossbar.

In the final seconds of injury time, goalkeeper Alshamsi made an excellent save to deny Minh Vương's powerful and dangerous free-kick, helping UAE secure a draw and forcing the two teams into a penalty shootout to determine the winner.

In the penalty shootout, UAE played better and won 4-3. Quang Hai and Minh Vuong were the two Vietnamese players who missed their penalties. With this result, UAE won the bronze medal, while Coach Park Hang-seo's team finished their journey at the 2018 Asian Games in fourth place.

Starting lineup

UAE: Alshamsi, Almehrzi, Alali, Alhashmi, Alalawi, Alattas, Abdulla, Aljasmi, Almesmari, Aldarmki, Musabbah.

Vietnam: Tien Dung, Xuan Manh, Duy Manh, Tien Dung, Van Hau, Duc Huy, Van Thanh, Van Toan, Van Quyet, Quang Hai, Anh Duc.