Vietnam finished the group stage of men’s football at the ongoing 2018 Asian Games at the top of the table after beating Japan 1-0 in Indonesia on Sunday.

As both teams already secured a berth in the knockout stage, Sunday's game was to decide the Group D leaders.

Striker Quang Hai scored the only goal three minutes into the game.

The Vietnamese squad, under the management of South Korean coach Park Hang-seo, made history becoming the first to finish an Asian Games group stage unbeaten.

Vietnam earned all nine points, having defeated Pakistan 3-0 on August 14, and Nepal 2-0 on August 16. Japan also advanced as Group D runners-up with six points.

Thanks to the strategies of head coach Park, the Vietnamese team did not allow their opponents to score any goal during the entire group stage.

However, 25-year-old Hung Dung, one of the key Vietnamese midfielders, had to leave the men's football category early after breaking his toe during the Sunday game.

Vietnam will face the third-place team of either Group B, E, or F in the round of 16 on August 23.

The knockout stage consists of 12 teams who rank first and second in six groups, along with the best four third-place teams.

The Asian Games is a continental multi-sport event held every four years among athletes from all over Asia. 

This year’s event is held in Jakarta and Palembang in Indonesia from August 18 to September 2.

The men’s football category began on August 10, eight days ahead of the official schedule.

Participating countries send under-23 players to compete in the category, with three overage players allowed on each team.

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