Cibinong, W Java (ANTARA News) - The U-23 United Arab Emirates (UAE) men`s soccer team won the bronze medal in the 2018 XVIII Asian Games after conquering Vietnam, with a total score of 5-4 (1-1 normal time), in the match for a third place marked by a penalty shootout, on Saturday.

During the match at the Pakansari Stadium, Cibinong, West Java, the UAE took the lead through a goal scored by Ahmad Alhashmi in the 17th minute. Vietnam scored with a goal through Nguyen Van Quyet in the 27th minute.

Four UAE players, namely Ahmad Alhashmi, Zayed Alameri, Khaled Aldhanhani, and Shaheen Aldarmki, scored successfully while on penalties, which ended 4-3, to win.

In the Vietnamese camp, three of the five kickers who managed to score goals were Vu Van Thanh, Ha Duc Chinh, and Phan Van Duc.

Vietnam fielded the mainstay senior player who was also captain Nguyen Van Quyet since the first minute after in the semi-finals against South Korea he stayed in the bench.

Senior Vietnamese players Do Hung Dung was sidelined due to injury.

The UAE, like Vietnam, also only played one senior player from the start, who was Mohammed Almesmari while his 25-year-old colleague Salem Alsharji waited on the bench.

Under these conditions, Vietnam took the initiative to attack even the first 15 minutes. But instead they conceded first.

Through a counter-attack in the 17th minute, UAE striker Ahmad Alhashmi led up to the Vietnam penalty box and fired a shot when the ball was unable to stem from Vietnam goalkeeper Bui Tien Dung.

After that, Vietnam again attacked the UAE in order to get a goal to balance the fight. The hope was realized in the 27th minute.

It was captain Quyet who fired the ball into the opponent`s goal via close range.

The 1-1 score boosted the intensity of the game, but both teams failed to add goals until the break.

In the second half, it was the UAE`s turn to start the attack, but it failed in the Vietnam defense.

Despite having made two dangerous chances in five minutes before the game ended, through Nguyen Quang Hai and Do Duy Manh, no goals were created and the match went straight to penalties.

Reporting by Michael Siahaan

Editing by Yoseph Hariyadi

Reporter: Antara
Editor: Gusti Nur Cahya Aryani
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