Iran goes to the round of 16
Indonesia beat Vietnam 1-0 in the second Group D match of the 2023 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Qatar Asian Cup at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium in Doha, Qatar on the 19th (Korea time).
Indonesia (3, -1) ranked third in the group with one win and one loss. It tied with Japan (3, +1) after being hit by Iraq, but fell behind in goal difference. Indonesia will challenge for second place in the group through the final group match against Japan on July 24. If South Korea tops the group, it will meet the second-ranked team in the round of 16 teams among Japan and Indonesia.
Indonesia, which lost 1-3 to Iraq in the first round, desperately needed a victory. The same was true of Vietnam, which lost to Japan.
Indonesia was leading in the single-logged match. In the 39th minute of the first half, Indonesia won a penalty kick when Raphael Strawick was caught and tripped by an opposing defender in the penalty box. Asnaoui, who played for the Jeonnam Dragons in the K League 2 until last season, calmly succeeded and scored the first goal.
Vietnam, which was on fire in the foot, increased its offensive level. Indonesia, which calmly blocked it, kept its victory by one goal by inducing the opponent to leave the game in the extra time of the second half and adding to the goalkeeper's defense. Iraq confirmed the top spot in the group according to the tournament regulations, which first determines the winner's win when the points are tied, and Vietnam was eliminated as fourth in the group.
Iran defeated Hong Kong 1-0 in their second Group C match at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha on the 20th.
In the 24th minute of the first half, Iran scored the first winning goal with Mende Gayedi's simple shot into the corner in the penalty box.
Iran (six points), which defeated Palestine 4-1 in the first round, has risen to the top of its group. Iran, which has confirmed its advance to the round of 16, will compete with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the second place and Paulo Bento's four points in the group in the final match.