Vietnam won the Asean Championship for the third time on Sunday, triumphing 3-2 over defending champions Thailand in the second leg of the final, resulting in a 5-3 aggregate win for Kim Sang-sik’s team. A crucial own goal from Pansa Hemviboon in the 82nd minute and a stoppage-time goal from Nguyen Hai Long secured Vietnam’s first title since 2018, avenging their defeat to Thailand in the previous final in 2022.
Having led 2-1 after the first leg in Viet Tri, Vietnam extended their advantage early in the eighth minute when Pham Tuan Hai lifted the ball into the net following a free kick from Pham Xuan Manh that the Thai defense failed to clear.
Thailand equalized twenty minutes later when Doan Ngoc Tan lost possession 25 yards out, allowing Ben Davis to curl a first-time strike past goalkeeper Nguyen Dinh Trieu. Supachok Sarachat then put Thailand ahead on the night with a powerful strike in the 64th minute, leveling the aggregate score.
Tensions escalated following Supachok’s goal, and in the 74th minute, Weerathep Pomphun received a red card for a second yellow after committing a foul on Vu Van Thanh.
Vietnam capitalized on their numerical advantage shortly after; substitute Nguyen Quang Hai set up Tuan Hai, whose shot was redirected past the goalkeeper by the unfortunate Pansa into his own net.
As the clock wound down, Suphanan Bureerat nearly equalized for Thailand, hitting the crossbar in the final minute of regulation as they sought to push the match into extra time. However, Vietnam dashed Thai hopes in the 20th minute of stoppage time when Hai Long scored into an empty net from distance, leaving the Thai goalkeeper stranded.
With this victory, Vietnam solidified its place in football history, having first won the Asean Championship in 2008.
Credit: SportStar
