HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam are through to the quarter-finals of the AFC Asian Cup after beating Jordan 4-2 in a penalty shootout at Al-Maktoum Stadium in Dubai, United Arab Emirates tonight.

The two teams were tied at 1-1 after extra time.

Việt Nam entered the game with confidence following their performance in qualifying.

There previous meetings with Jordan at the Asian Cup had both been in qualifying and ended in draws.

The first 10 minutes was a tight affair, and neither team threatened to score.

Việt Nam vs Joran in the knock out round of the AFC Asian Cup’s final in the United Arab Emirates tonight. — VNA/VNS Photo Hoàng Linh

The first breakthrough fell to Việt Nam thanks to good work on the left wing from midfielder Phan Văn Đức, striker Nguyễn Công Phượng and midfielder Nguyễn Quang Hải, but Đức was unable to latch on to Hải’s through ball.

Jordan responded after a careless pass from midfielder Nguyễn Huy Hùng, but Yousef Rawshdeh’s left-footed shot was unable to squirm past goalkeeper Đặng Văn Lâm.

Several minutes later, the Vietnamese defence line was once again broken following an attack on the right, but Feras Shilbaya’s cross was fired over by Yasen Bakheet.

Jordan maintained their pressure and Mousa Suleiman was denied by Lâm in the 26^th minute.

Việt Nam fought back strongly with defender Đoàn Văn Hậu firing off a dangerous shot that goalkeeper Amer Shafi was equal to, and Phượng was unable to convert the rebound.

In the 39th minute, a freekick was awarded to Jordan on the left wing and Baha Abdel-Rahman slammed the ball high past Lâm to claim the opener for Jordan.

Việt Nam had two long-range efforts to level before the half-time whistle, but were denied.

But it wasn’t long into the second half that Phượng scored a cracking volley to equalise for Việt Nam, the first goal Jordan had conceded at the Cup.

Striker Nguyễn Công Phượng (middle) celebrates his goal in the match between Việt Nam and Jordan in the knock out round of the AFC Asian Cup’s final in the United Arab Emirates tonight. — VNA/VNS Photo Hoàng Linh

Việt Nam had a chance to take the lead in the 58th minute, but defender Bùi Tiến Dũng’s header hit the crossbar.

Việt Nam continued to dominate the game with possession of 60 per cent but were unable to convert their dominance.

Both coaches made changes in extra time, but neither side was able to break the deadlock.

Jordan have been eliminated in both of their Asian Cup knockout games, losing on penalties to Japan in 2004 and losing to Uzbekistan in 2011. Việt Nam have qualified for the Asian Cup knockout stages in each of their two appearances in the competition (2007 and 2019), with Iraq defeating them in the 2007 quarter-finals. — VNS