Vietnam beat Pakistan to secure place in FIFA ASEAN Cup bronze medal match

Vietnam entered the game cautiously, knowing a draw would be enough to retain their second place in Group B.

However, a defensive mistake in the 31st minute allowed Mohib Ullah to score for Pakistan, giving them a 1-0 lead at half-time.

Vietnam immediately stepped up the pace after the break, producing a markedly different performance in the second half.

Coach Kim Sang Sik made two substitutions, bringing on Nguyen Dinh Bac and Phan Tuan Tai for Nguyen Tai Loc and Cao Pendant Quang Vinh.

In the 50th minute, Tuan Tai set up Nguyen Hai Long, who skillfully beat a Pakistani defender before curling the ball into the net to level the score at 1-1.

Seven minutes later, Vietnam took the lead.

Dinh Bac accelerated down the left wing before sending a low cross into the box for Hoang Duc to finish with a first-time shot, making it 2-1.

Dinh Bac scored himself in the 80th minute to extend Vietnam's lead to 3-1.

Receiving a long pass from Tuan Tai, he broke into the box and fired a decisive left-footed shot into the near corner.

Pakistan pulled one back in the 88th minute when Ali Akbar Khan beat several defenders before unleashing a powerful shot from outside the box.

Vietnam restored their two-goal cushion just three minutes later, with Dinh Bac setting up Williams Minh Hoang for an easy finish to seal the 4-2 victory.

Vietnam finished second in Group B with six points and will face Malaysia, Group A's runners-up, in the third-place play-off at 4:00 pm on Monday at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta, Indonesia.