It was Vietnam who broke the deadlock at the Rajamangala Stadium after 16 minutes when Nguyen Thanh Chung’s searching ball from defence released Ho Tan Tai, who raced down the right before squaring a neat pass to leave Nguyen Tien Linh with a simple tap-in.
However, the North Koreans levelled the scores three minutes before the half-hour mark when Kang Kuk-chol tried his luck with a 30-yard freekick that looked like it would lead to a routine save for Bui Tien Dung, only for the Vietnam goalkeeper to make an absolute mess of it and punch the ball off the bar and into goal of his own back.
And, in the 90th minute, DPR Korea went to seal an impressive come-from-behind win when Ri Chung-gyu sent Tien Dung the wrong way from the penalty spot, after Kim Hwang-hyok had needlessly been clattered into inside the box by Tran Bao Toan.
Having needed a win at the very least to keep alive their hopes of advancing, the result even meant that Vietnam dropped below the North Koreans to occupy the fourth and bottom spot in the group.
Instead, it is United Arab Emirates who will advance as Group D winners along with Jordan after the two teams played out a 1-1 draw over at Buriram Stadium.
Zaid Al-Ameri opened the scoring for the Emiratis four minutes before halftime, but Ihab Al-Khawaldeh struck in the 79th minute to earn Jordan a share of the spoils
Highlights
FULL TIME:
Vietnam 1-2 North Korea
90+4′ – RED CARD: An insult to injury for Vietnam as Tran Dinh Trong is sent off in the dying minutes!
90′ – GOAL! Vietnam 1-2 DPR KOREA!
Ri Chung-gyu converts the penalty and Vietnam are now surely heading out of the competition!
88′ – PENALTY FOR DPR KOREA! Kim Kwang-Hyok is brought down inside the box by substitute Tran Bao Toan and it is a penalty for North Korea.
79′ – Jordan equalise! 1-1 at the Thammasat Stadium between UAE and Jordan meaning that Vietnam are heading out of the tournament even if they manage to find a winner against the North Koreans.
JORDAN 1-1 UAE!
59′ Now, Ha Duc Chinh goes close with a shot that flies over the goal from close range. Vietnam are getting closer and closer.
56′ Nguyen Hoang Duc gets inside the box, beats his defender and tries to beat the North Korean goalkeeper at his near post, but Kang Ju-hyok manages to hold onto the shot.
52′ Vietnam have come out for the second half revitalised and is threatening to score. Nguyen Tien Linh and Nguyen Quang Hai have gone close in the opening seven minutes of the second period.
45' First half ends...
41 ' GOALLL!
UAE have taken the lead in the other game through Zayed Al Ameri. It’s now JORDAN 0-1 UAE! Vietnam can progress with a win if UAE can hold onto the win.
38 ′ - Ho Tan Tai’s cross hits the hands of DPR Korea player Choe Ok-chol inside the box, but the referee says no penalty.
25' GOALLL FOR NORTH KOREA
Bui Tien Dung makes mistake, giving a goal to North Korea
VIETNAM 1 - 1 NORTH KOREA
22′ – And DPR Korea’s Choe Ok-chol joins him into referee’s book!
21′ – Yellow card for Nguyen Quang Hai for a foul on So Jong-gil!
16' GOALLL
Tan Tai sets up Tien Linh who scores the first goal for Vietnam in the match as well as the tournament!
VIETNAM 1 - 0 NORTH KOREA
10 ' DANGEROUS
From Quang Hai's pass, Tien Linh sped up to face goalkeeper Kang Ju Hyok. However, the number 22 of Vietnam was unable to touch the ball.
8 ' DANGEROUS
A sigh of relief for Vietnam as North Korean attacker Kim Kuk-jin gets inside the box and fires a shot across the goal which flies inches wide of the goal!
5' U23 Vietnam is actively playing attack against North Korea
1' KICKS OFF
Vietnam official starting XI
2018 finalists Vietnam will take on DPR Korea in their crucial final group match of the 2020 AFC U23 Championship at the Rajamangala National Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand on Thursday.
Vietnam have had two goalless draws in their first two outings of the continental championship and must defeat the North Koreans and hope for the result to go their way in the other Group D match between United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Jordan.
Thailand, Bahrain, Australia and Iraq make up Group A of the tournament while 2018 AFC U23 Championship finalists Vietnam are in Group D with DPR Korea, Jordan and UAE.
2018 finalists Vietnam find themselves in a precarious position as they head into the final matchday in Group D of the AFC U23 Championship 2020 being held in Thailand.
Group B of the continental competition consists of Qatar, Japan, Saudi Arabia and Syria while Group C features defending champions Uzbekistan, Korea Republic, China PR and IR Iran.
Top two teams from each group will progress to the knockout stages of the fourth edition of the continental tournament.The semifinals will be played on January 22 while the final will take place at the Rajamangala National Stadium in Bangkok on January 26.
Line-ups U23 Vietnam vs U23 North Korea:
U23 Vietnam: Bui Tien Dung; Ho Tan Tai, Nguyen Thanh Chung, Tran Dinh Trong, Le Ngoc Bao and Do Thanh Thinh; Nguyen Duc Chien, Nguyen Hoang Duc and Nguyen Quang Hai; Ha Duc Chinh and Nguyen Tien Linh.
U23 Korea: Kang Ju Hyok; Pak Kwang Chon, Ri Young Gwon, Choe Jin Nam, Jang Song Il, Ryang Hyon Ju, Ri Chung Gyu, Pak Kwang Hun, Kim Hwi Hwang, Kim Kum Chol.
>>> Nguyen Quang Hai: U23 Vietnam will fight their best to win
>>> U23 Jordan recieves bad news before the clash with UAE
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