*Scorers: Cong Vien 1', Ngoc Anh 4'

In their second match against Lebanon on the afternoon of 29/1, the Vietnamese players adopted an aggressive approach from the opening whistle. Just 18 seconds into the game, pivo Nguyen Thinh Phat delivered a sharp pass into the penalty area, allowing fixo Dinh Cong Vien to break free and tap in the opening goal. At 50 seconds, Thinh Phat nearly doubled the lead when his diagonal shot struck the post. Maintaining continuous pressure, Vietnam extended their lead to 2-0 in the 4th minute. Receiving a pass from goalkeeper Van Tu on the right wing, ala Vu Ngoc Anh eluded a defender and chipped the ball, which the goalkeeper initially parried. However, Ngoc Anh quickly followed up with a precise diagonal shot into the narrow corner of the net, increasing the advantage.

Vietnam (in white) dominated Lebanon from the start, scoring two early goals to secure a 2-0 victory in their second group B match at the 2026 Asian futsal championship on the afternoon of 29/1. *Photo: AFC*.

This victory propelled the team to the top of group B with 6 points. In the other match scheduled for 17h, if Thailand defeats or draws with Kuwait, coach Giustozzi's team will secure an early spot in the quarterfinals. Team leader Tran Anh Tu had previously invoked the "U23 spirit" to motivate the players to fight for a quarterfinal berth. However, coach Diego Giustozzi's squad had raised concerns after a hard-fought comeback victory against Kuwait, a team ranked 20 places lower.

Lebanon, ranked 54th globally, had performed well in their opening match, losing 0-2 to Thailand only due to defensive errors. After conceding two quick goals against Vietnam, the West Asian representative quickly reorganized their formation and played more compactly. Lebanese players created three one-on-one opportunities, but goalkeeper Pham Van Tu made excellent saves to deny them. Conversely, feeling secure with a two-goal lead, Vietnam did not launch overwhelming attacks but maintained a slower, more deliberate offensive rhythm. They still created some chances but could not beat goalkeeper Joueidi.

Vietnamese players celebrate their 2-0 victory over Lebanon in their second group B match at the 2026 Asian futsal championship on the afternoon of 29/1. *Photo: AFC*.

Facing potential elimination if they lost, Lebanon pushed higher in the second half, seeking an equalizer. The West Asian team gained an advantage in the 25th minute when ala Duong Ngoc Linh received his second yellow card. The Vietnamese team could not appeal the decision as VS technology (video support) only permits reviews for direct red cards. Despite playing with an extra player for two minutes, Lebanon failed to create any clear scoring opportunities. Conversely, the Vietnamese players defended resolutely during this period. Once back to full strength, Vietnam resumed their attack, and ala Tran Thai Huy nearly scored with two shots that were saved by the opposing goalkeeper. In the final 4 minutes, Lebanon employed a power-play strategy in an attempt to find a goal, but the Vietnamese players defended tightly to secure the 2-0 victory.

The Asian futsal championship finals are being held from 27/1 to 7/2/2026 at the Indonesia Arena and Istora Gelora Bung Karno stadiums in Jakarta, the capital. Fourteen national teams are participating: Iran, Japan, Thailand, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, South Korea, Kuwait, Tajikistan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia, Vietnam, and Afghanistan. The teams are divided into four groups, competing in a round-robin format, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the knockout stage.

Iran holds the most impressive record with 13 continental championships. The West Asian representative was also the first team to be crowned champions in the 1999 tournament and arrived in Indonesia this year as the defending champions. The remaining four titles have been won by Japan in 2006, 2012, 2014, and 2022. In Southeast Asia, Thailand boasts the best performance, having been runners-up in 2008, 2012, and 2024. Vietnam achieved a fourth-place finish in 2016. Meanwhile, Indonesia's best achievement was reaching the quarterfinals in 2022, while Malaysia has never progressed past the group stage. This marks Vietnam's 8th participation in the Asian championship. Additionally, the Vietnamese men's futsal team has competed in the World Cup twice, in 2016 and 2021.

Duc Dong