Vietnam claim third Asean Championship title after 3-2 win over Thailand in Bangkok
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(From left) Vietnam's Do Duy Manh, Pham Tuan Hai, Vu Van Thanh and Nguyen Tien Linh leading the celebrations.
PHOTO: AFP
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BANGKOK – Despite losing star striker Rafaelson to injury, Vietnam claimed their third Asean Championship title with a 3-2 win over 10-man defending champions Thailand in the second leg of the final at the Rajamangala Stadium on Jan 5.
Pansa Hemviboon’s 82nd-minute own goal and a stoppage-time effort from Nguyen Hai Long helped the Golden Star Warriors to a 5-3 aggregate victory, adding to their triumphs in 2008 and 2018.
In the process, the Vietnamese also avenged their loss to the Thais in the previous final in 2022.
Vietnam’s South Korean coach Kim Sang-sik credited their fans for getting them over the line. The former coach of K-League club Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors said: “We had to play in a cauldron, going through a difficult match.
“Thanks to the support of all the Vietnamese fans, we were able to win. Thank you to all the players who did not give up, fought to the end.
“I have won the K-League. But that was at the club level. For the national team, this is my first championship. It means a lot.”
Thai midfielder Ben Davis said: “Today was unlucky. We tried our best, but next time we’ll get the trophy back for our country.”
Vietnam, who led 2-1 following the first leg in Viet Tri,
But Davis equalised for the hosts with a first-time shot from outside the box 20 minutes later after Doan Ngoc Tan had given away possession.
Vietnam’s hopes took a hit when Rafaelson had to be replaced by Nguyen Tien Linh in the 34th minute due to an injury.
The Thais then took the lead after the break through Supachok Sarachat, who made it 2-1 for the second leg and levelled the overall score with a blistering strike in the 64th minute, the ball flying into the top corner from more than 25 metres.
Tensions flared after Supachok’s goal and, in the 74th minute, the game turned again as Weerathep Pomphan was dismissed for a second bookable offence as he committed a cynical foul on Vu Van Thanh on the halfway line.
The Vietnamese made their numerical superiority count soon after, substitute Nguyen Quang Hai feeding possession to Tuan Hai and his shot towards the bottom corner was redirected under goalkeeper Patiwat Khammai by Pansa.
Suphanan Bureerat hit the crossbar in the final minute of regulation time as the seven-time champions looked to take the match into extra time.
But the Vietnamese killed off Thai hopes in the 20th minute of added time when Hai Long scored into an empty net from distance with Thai custodian Patiwat stranded at the opposite end of the pitch.
Vietnam claimed their third Asean Championship title with a 3-2 win over 10-man defending champions Thailand in the second leg of the final at the Rajamangala Stadium.
PHOTO: AFP
Rafaelson was later named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player and Golden Boot winner with seven goals from five matches. As the 27-year-old Brazil-born striker was taken to hospital, Quang Hai and captain Do Duy Manh collected the awards on his behalf.
Duy Manh returned to the stage moments later to lift the trophy with his team, sending the thousands of Vietnamese fans at the stadium into a frenzy. REUTERS
