Vietnam comfortably defeated Nepal 3-1 at home in their opening AFC Asian Cup qualification fixture. The expected victory at Hanoi's My Dinh National Stadium gets Vietnam's campaign off to a winning start as they aim to cement their status as a rising force in Asian football. Vietnam took an early lead and never looked back, adding a second before halftime to take firm control. Nepal showed spirit and managed to score a consolation goal in the second half, but Vietnam quickly restored their two-goal cushion to seal the three points. The Golden Star Warriors displayed their trademark technical style and cohesive team play, creating numerous chances throughout the match. This result places Vietnam at the summit of their early group standings. For Nepal, the away defeat is a tough assignment, but scoring against a strong opponent provides a positive to build upon.