Vietnam secured their third ASEAN Championship title on Sunday with a thrilling 3-2 victory over defending champions Thailand in Bangkok, sealing a 5-3 aggregate win. The Golden Star Warriors, led by coach Kim Sang-sik, avenged their 2022 final loss to Thailand and celebrated their first title since 2018.
Vietnam, who carried a 2-1 lead from the first leg in Viet Tri, extended their advantage in the eighth minute when Pham Tuan Hai capitalized on a defensive lapse by the Thai backline, lifting the ball past goalkeeper Patiwat Khammai.
Thailand equalized in the 28th minute after a mistake from Doan Ngoc Tan, allowing Ben Davis to curl a sublime first-time effort into the bottom corner. Supachok Sarachat then electrified the home crowd with a stunning 25-yard strike in the 64th minute, leveling the aggregate score at 3-3.
Tensions boiled over after Supachok’s goal, and in the 74th minute, Thailand’s Weerathep Pomphun was sent off for a second yellow card following a cynical foul on Vu Van Thanh. Vietnam capitalized on their numerical advantage when Tuan Hai’s strike deflected off Pansa Hemviboon for an own goal in the 82nd minute, putting Vietnam ahead.
Thailand pushed for an equalizer, with Suphanan Bureerat hitting the crossbar in the dying moments of regulation time. However, Vietnam sealed their victory deep into stoppage time when Nguyen Hai Long scored into an empty net after Thai goalkeeper Patiwat was caught out of position. This triumph marks Vietnam’s third ASEAN Championship title, adding to their successes in 2008 and 2018.