Two goals each by Nguyen Cong Vinh and Nguyen Van Toan helped Vietnam to secure their first international win under coach Nguyen Huu Thang over Chinese Taipei in the second round of the 2018 World Cup qualification’s Asian category.

Wu Chu Ching scored early on in the seventh minute giving the visitors the lead, but Vietnam soon levelled the score just one minute later with a goal from captain Nguyen Cong Vinh, who scored his second goal in the second half’s first extra minute to seal a comfortable victory for the hosts.

The two other goals were scored by striker Nguyen Van Toan in the 29th and 42nd minutes.

Vietnam, currently ranked 146th on the FIFA world rankings, went to the match on March 24 at My Dinh National Stadium with one win, one draw and two losses in hand while underdog Chinese Taipei, which currently rank 181st, lost all four previous matches.

Vietnam are scheduled to take on Iraq, whom Vietnam drew with 1-1 in October last year, in an away match on March 29 at Shahid Dastgerdi Stadium in Iran.

In Group F, Vietnam are ranked third behind Thailand and Iraq. Thailand have advanced to the third round of the 2018 World Cup qualification with a total of 14 points after six matches, 5 points higher than the runners-up Iraq, who have played five matches.

Trúc Phương