Vietnam stun hosts Thailand 2-0 in ASEAN Cup final first leg

The first half ended scoreless as both teams struggled to create clear-cut chances.

Coach Kim Sang Sik's strategic changes turned the tide after the break, with both goals coming from substitutes. 

Vietnam broke the deadlock in the 62nd minute through a swift counterattack when Hoang Duc launched a precise long pass to Dinh Bac, whose classy backheel inside the box set up Nguyen Hai Long to finish calmly from close range.

Just six minutes later, Vietnam doubled their advantage when Nguyen Quang Hai received a pass from Hoang Hen and unleashed a superb volley into the near corner, leaving the Thai goalkeeper helpless.

The victory gives the defending champions a commanding lead on their opponent's home turf heading into the return leg. 

The two sides will clash again for the final leg at My Dinh Stadium on August 26.

What the coaches said

At the post-match press conference, Vietnam head coach Kim Sang Sik credited his side's second-half resurgence to sheer effort and tactical adjustments despite early fatigue, while Thailand boss Anthony Hudson expressed pride in his young squad while pointing to physical conditioning and rapid recovery as the key factors for the return leg.

Acknowledging a sluggish first half, Kim attributed the early struggles to high pressure and fatigue, noting that his squad had one less rest day and had spent only a single full day in Thailand. 

However, he praised his players for giving their all after the break to deliver an impressive performance and prove their quality. Emphasizing that the tie is only half over, Kim urged his team to focus on recovery and thorough preparation for the decisive second leg in Hanoi, while also expressing gratitude to the travelling Vietnamese fans.

Dismissing any surprise over Vietnam's early second-half substitutions, Hudson insisted his team's journey is far from over and maintained full belief in turning the tie around in Hanoi. 

While expressing immense pride in his young squad—which featured seven U23 players—he voiced regret over their physical conditioning, noting that a lack of fitness hindered their sharpness in front of goal. 

Hudson stressed that rapid recovery is now Thailand's biggest challenge, revealing that he urged his players to watch Vietnam celebrate on their home turf to fuel their motivation for the return leg.