Thailand coach says 2-0 deficit is ‘just the score’ ahead of ASEAN Cup final 2nd leg against Vietnam

Hudson attended the pre-match press conference alongside captain Sarach Yooyen ahead of the second leg at My Dinh Stadium on Wednesday.

“Thailand’s only goal is to win. We have to fight with everything we have,” Hudson said at the start of the press conference.

Yooyen echoed his coach’s determination.

“Nothing can stop us from reaching the title. We still have a chance and will do everything we can to bring the trophy home,” the midfielder said.

Asked whether Thailand’s first-leg defeat was partly because they fielded a second-string lineup, Yooyen rejected the idea that the team had a first-string or second-string lineup.

“We don’t have an A team or a B team. Whoever steps onto the pitch gives everything,” he said.

Hudson was also asked about his decision to make his players stay and watch Vietnam celebrate after the first leg.

“Football is a battle of emotions. We have been together all the way to this stage. Vietnam are a very strong team and I respect them,” he said.

“But I wanted my players to believe that they had played well, that we had only lost the first leg and that the opportunity was still there. I wanted them to remember that moment and use it as motivation for the second leg.”

On whether he feared losing his job after the tournament, Hudson said his situation was very different from that of Vietnam coach Kim Sang Sik.

“I have not been able to have my best players available for the 2026 ASEAN Cup, while Vietnam had an early training camp, a full squad and the desire to win the title. I think the Football Association of Thailand (FAT) will understand that,” Hudson said.

Hudson refused to reveal his tactical plan for the second leg but insisted that Thailand remain in the contest.

“2-0 is just the score. In reality, we created many chances in the first leg. Of course we regret the result, but I still believe everything is not over for Thailand,” he said.

Hudson said every tournament and match presented different challenges.

“I don't compare the difficulty of tomorrow’s match with other games. I am focused on solving the problems in this match and want my players to show everyone who we are,” he said.

Hudson also praised Vietnam goalkeeper Patrik Le Giang, who made several important saves in the first leg.

“He is a good goalkeeper, so I told my players that we need to finish our chances better. We will find a way through Vietnam’s defense, although tomorrow’s game will be under a lot of pressure,” he said.

Kim Sang Sik targets historic match

Vietnam coach Kim Sang Sik attended the press conference alongside forward Nguyen Dinh Bac, who has scored five goals at the tournament.

“Vietnam are just one final match away from the title after months of preparation. We will try to deliver a good game and create beautiful memories,” Kim said.

He emphasized the significance of the occasion.

“This match will be written into the history of Vietnamese football. The players will be the main characters in that story. I hope the fans will come to the stadium in large numbers to support the team,” the South Korean coach said.

Dinh Bac said the players were eager to finish the job.

“Tomorrow is the final match. My teammates and I are excited and will give everything to bring a victory to the fans. I was a little tired and not very happy with my performance in the first leg, but I will come back stronger in the second leg,” he said.

Responding to a question from a South Korean reporter, Kim thanked the Korean media for covering the Vietnamese team and helping bring its story to fans in South Korea.

“I hope Dinh Bac will not only perform well in Vietnam but also succeed overseas. He can become even better in the future,” Kim said.

Dinh Bac added that the squad remained focused despite its two-goal advantage.

“Whoever starts the game, all the players are united and determined,” he said.

Kim also dismissed any suggestion that Vietnam would become complacent.

“Although we have a 2-0 advantage from the first leg, we still have nothing in our hands yet. Vietnam will not be complacent,” he said.

Asked whether he would dance to celebrate if Vietnam won the title, as he did after his previous championship triumph, Kim smiled.

“If the players and fans want me to dance, I will. I hope Bac and I can dance together to celebrate,” he said.

Dinh Bac joked that the whole team would probably join in.

“If we win tomorrow, the whole team will dance, not just me and the coach,” he said.

Kim said he might have to turn off his phone because many people had been messaging him to ask for tickets. Dinh Bac said the players were happy to receive so much support from fans, although tickets had become difficult to find.

On the tournament’s Golden Boot race, Dinh Bac said he and teammate Nguyen Xuan Son were not overly concerned about individual achievements.

“Winning the title is the biggest success for both of us. If we get to play, we will work together and give our best,” he said.

Kim said the team had prepared for tomorrow’s match for more than two months and had reached the final. They are very close to the title, so they cannot afford to become complacent and let everything slip away.

“The players know what they need to do and what mindset they need to have.”

Dinh Bac said the squad was treating the second leg as an entirely new game.

They don't consider themselves to have an advantage. They approach the match as if the score were still 0-0. Vietnam will do everything possible to win the match, he said.

The second leg of the ASEAN Cup 2026 final between Vietnam and Thailand will kick off at 8:00 pm on Wednesday, August 26 at My Dinh Stadium.

Vietnam took a major step toward retaining their title with a 2-0 win over hosts Thailand in the first leg at Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok on Saturday, with Hai Long opening the scoring in the 62nd minute before Quang Hai doubled the lead six minutes later.

Thailand now need a three-goal victory in Hanoi to win the title outright. A 2-0 victory would force extra time.

The task is particularly difficult given that Thailand have never won an away leg in an ASEAN Cup final since 2007.

The tournament’s history also favors Vietnam: no team has previously lost the first leg of an ASEAN Cup final by two goals and gone on to win the title.

Vietnam, meanwhile, will retain the trophy if they draw or lose by one goal.