Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam secured thelast ticket to the knockout round of the AFC Asian Cup 2019 in the United ArabEmirates after narrowly qualified over Lebanon on fair-play points.

Both Vietnam and Lebanon had three points afterthree group matches and the same goal difference of -1.

However, Vietnam accumulated five yellow cards ascompared to seven of Lebanon. 

Lebanon showed great determination with a convincing 4-1 win against the DemocraticPeople’s Republic of Korea despite conceding the match’s opening goal. 

Earlier, fans of the “Golden Dragons” watched in regret as Oman doubled thelead in their clash with Turkmenistan when there were just seconds left on theclock to win 3-1 to book a spot in the round of 16. 

Vietnam had previously lost 2-3 to Iraq and 0-2to Iran, but the team beat Yemen 2-0 in Group D.

Vietnam will face Jordan, the winner of Group B,in the knockout round on January 20. This is the second time Vietnam haveentered the knockout round of the AFC Asian Cup after they secured a berth inthe quarterfinals of the tournament in 2007.

The Jordanians are showing impressive form witha record of being undefeated so far in the AFC Asian Cup 2019. 

But, the Vietnamese have more than just hope.The last two recent clashes between Vietnam and Jordan in 2017 and 2018 endedwith two draws.-VNA