Nguyen Xuan Son (L) goes down in pain while dribbling the ball. Photo: Anh Khoa / Tuoi Tre
Vietnam opened their Group B campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over the Philippines on Saturday night, but the win came at a heavy cost as striker Xuan Son suffered an injury.
In the 69th minute, the 29-year-old accelerated before suddenly clutching the back of his thigh and going down on the pitch.
Dinh Bac continued the attack, carrying the ball into the penalty area, but his effort was saved by the Philippines goalkeeper.
Xuan Son was unable to continue and had to leave the field.
He pulled his shirt over his face in visible disappointment.
The Brazil-born striker was treated by Vietnam's medical staff.
The preliminary diagnosis indicated a hamstring injury.
Hamstring injuries occur when the muscles or tendons at the back of the thigh are overstretched or torn, often during intense physical activity or a sudden movement.
Xuan Son was scheduled to undergo an MRI scan at a hospital in Indonesia on Sunday to determine the extent of the injury.
If the initial diagnosis is confirmed, the striker could be forced to leave the tournament early.
Depending on the severity of the damage, hamstring injuries can require anywhere from six weeks to three months for full recovery.
“Xuan Son is a very important player for the national team, so it will be unfortunate if he has to leave the field,” head coach Kim Sang Sik said after the match.
Vietnam will next face Thailand on Tuesday.
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