Việt Nam's national football team hoist coach Kim Sang-sik in celebration after the final whistle confirmed their fourth ASEAN Championship at Mỹ Đình Stadium on Wednesday. VNA/VNS Photo Minh Quyết

Anh Đức

HÀ NỘI - Việt Nam have retained their ASEAN Hyundai Cup title, after a difficult 2-2 draw with arch-rivals Thailand in the second leg of the final at Hà Nội's Mỹ Đình Stadium on Wednesday, securing them a 4-2 aggregate victory.

With a 2-0 lead in the first leg, Việt Nam fell behind twice at home in the second leg, but two own goals by Thailand kept the cup in Hà Nội and preserved the Golden Star Warriors' international unbeaten streak, which now stands at 26 matches.

No road is paved with roses. So sang Tùng Dương in the opening ceremony for the match, covering the famous song 'Road to Victory' (Đường tới ngày vinh quang) by the late Vietnamese rock legend Trần Lập. And Việt Nam's chance to successfully defend their title for the first time was anything but an easy game, as they went up against an opponent that knew them well.

Before the match, Coach Kim Sang-sik cautioned his players against complacency, saying: "Let's treat this match as if the aggregate is 0-0."

The beginning of the game started roughly for the hosts. In just the eighth minute, core left-back Nguyễn Văn Vĩ went down injured and had to be subbed off for Phan Tuấn Tài.

Thailand capitalised on a poor position from the Vietnamese defence, sending an early cross towards Seksan Ratree. Ratree then headed backwards for Yotsakorn Burapha to place a vicious right-footed shot into the bottom corner of Lê Giang Patrik's net, opening the score and pulling one back for Thailand on aggregate.

Back from the break, Việt Nam pushed on ahead, looking for the equaliser. But when they failed to strike back, they were hit on a counter in the 49th minute. Kakana Khamyok sprinted past Phạm Xuân Mạnh, forcing the defender to make a last-ditch tackle that brought Kakana down inside the penalty area.

With 40 minutes to go, Thailand were one goal and 11 metres away from spoiling the party for the hosts and making an unbelievable comeback. However, Kakana skyrocketed the ball over the bar, and the whole stadium breathed a sigh of relief.

Kakana's penalty miss seemed to have revitalised the hosts, who found chance after chance near Thailand's goal. And just four minutes later, the men in red found the equaliser.

The last time Phan Tuấn Tài played a final was in 2022, during the 31st SEA Games final in Mỹ Đình. In that match, he delivered a pinpoint cross towards Nhâm Mạnh Dũng, who headed in the winning goal.

Four years later, Tài found himself in the same position. He crossed in deep for Hoàng Hên, whose shot hit the post, but fortunately rebounded off keeper Chatchai Bootprom into the back of the net. Hên, whose name literally means 'fortune' in Vietnamese, celebrated with a quirky dance near the corner with his teammates.

Việt Nam had more chances to put the game to bed after the equaliser as Thailand pushed on. A golden opportunity went the way of Trương Tiến Anh in the 63rd minute, but his shot went just wide of the post. Six minutes later, substitute Nguyễn Hai Long broke the offside trap, but his shot hit the bar.

Thailand coach Anthony Hudson brought on Woorachit Kanitsribampen and Wanchai Jarunongkran in the 84th minute, with time running out and Thailand still needing two goals to bring the game to extra time. With four strikers up front, the substitutions seemed to work, as Wanchai scored with a simple tap in just one minute after he came on.

But what the Englishman did not foresee was that his hero sub Wanchai went to zero in the space of 10 minutes.

As all of the Thai players were up front with seconds to go, the ball was cleared towards Nguyễn Xuân Son, who raced against Wanchai. The Thai striker tried to clear the ball away, but it went straight into the back of Chatchai's net, sending Mỹ Đình into a rapture reminiscent of 18 years ago, when Lê Công Vinh won the first ASEAN Championship for Việt Nam.

The 2-2 draw meant that Việt Nam won the final 4-2 on aggregate and successfully defended their title, equalling Singapore's record of four ASEAN Championships.

In terms of personal merits, Nguyễn Đình Bắc won the Most Valuable Player award and Nguyễn Xuân Son won the Top Goalscorer award, while goalkeeper Lê Giang Patrik won the Best Goalkeeper award.

Việt Nam's next tournament will be the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup, which will be held in Jakarta from September 24. VNS