Vietnamese women experienced the most heartbreaking way to lose a football match when they were defeated in a penalty shootout by Taiwan in the quarterfinal at the 2018 Asian Games on Friday night.

With Taiwan considered the underdogs, Vietnam started the game with high confidence but eventually failed to settle the match in 90 minutes, which made them to pay a heavy price in the penalty shootout.

The two finished goalless after extra-time, with the Vietnamese failing to have any clear chances to score while their Taiwanese rivals stunned them with some critical counterattacks.

The teams then entered the penalty shootout, where Vietnam’s dream of winning the champion in women’s football at Asia’s biggest playground was cruelly over as the Taiwanese better proved their courage.

Vietnam’s Hoang Quynh and Thai Thi Thao wasted their chances, allowing Taiwan to win the shootout 4-3 and secure a semifinal berth.

The Vietnamese women made it to the semifinals at the Incheon 2014, but lost in their bronze medal match against South Korea.

Taiwan’s hunt for the first medal in women’s football in a generation will be challenged by either China or Thailand on the first semifinal game on August 28.

Vietnamese football lovers now look to the men’s team, who booked a historic quarterfinal berth following a thrilling 1-0 win against ten-men Bahrain in the round of 16 in Indonesia on Thursday.

Vietnam, the only Southeast Asian men’s football representative at the Games, will take on Syria on August 27.

Before the 2018 Asian Games, Vietnam’s women consistently outshined their male counterparts on the international stages with five SEA Games championships.

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