Vietnam defeat Thailand 3-2 after extra time to claim men's football gold medal
Hanoi, December 19 (VNA) - Vietnam scored their third goal in extra time after they leveled 2-2 with hosts Thailand in the main 90 minutes of the 33rd SEA Games men's football final to secure the title.
This was the third time in the last four SEA Games men's football final that Vietnam have reached. In the 2019 tournament in the Philippines and the 2022 tournament at home, the team won both of them after defeating Indonesia 3-0 and Thailand 1-0.
Thailand and Vietnam have met five times in the SEA Games final. Thailand won four of those matches. Meanwhile, Vietnam won 1-0 in 2022 thanks to a late header by Nham Manh Dung.
Up until tonight's men's football final, Vietnam had only won one match against Thailand at the SEA Games, but remained unbeaten in their last nine matches across all competitions at the U23 level.
Thailand haven't won a gold medal in men's football at the SEA Games since 2017. They reached the final twice, losing to Vietnam 0-1 in 2022 and Indonesia 3-5 in extra time in 2023. The task for coach Thawatchai Damrong-Ongtrakul's team is even more challenging as both the women's football and women's futsal teams failed to reach the finals, ruining their plan to win four football gold medals in this SEA Games.
In the final, Vietnam kept the same lineup as the semi-final against the Philippines, while Thailand made three changes.
With the home advantage, Thailand confidently pushed forward right after the whistle. Right in the second minute, Thailand got their first shot of the game after Seksan Ratree received the ball on the right flank, cut inside before finishing over the bar.
Vietnam were not overwhelmed by the pressure at Rajamangala Stadium. The players in red confidently held possession and gradually pushed Thailand back into their half.
In the 15th minute, Thailand’s captain Seksan made a misplaced pass, but Vietnam failed to capitalise on the opportunity to create a scoring chance.
Thailand's brightest star Yotsakorn Burapha scored a beautiful goal from a free kick 25 metres out and got the host ahead in the 20th minute. This is his third goal from a free kick and seventh overall in this SEA Games.
In the 31st minute, from a quick counterattack, the ball found captain Seksan Ratree, who sprinted down the right flank before cutting in, past two Vietnam defenders and unleashed a shot from outside the box, defeating keeper Trung Kien.
After scoring two goals, Thailand continued the momentum with more scoring chances created, while Vietnam lost possession too many times.
Coach Kim Sang-sik noticed a problem in the midfield when Vietnam continuously lost possession. He subbed Nguyen Thai Quoc Cuong out for Nguyen Thai Son.
In the 40th minute, Vietnam’s Pham Minh Phuc dribbled the ball down the right flank and crossed it in for Viktor Le, who attempted a diving header but it went wide.
Thailand entered the break with a 2-0 lead against Vietnam from long-range goals by Yotsakorn Burapha and Seksan Ratree. The visitors will have a mountain to climb in the second half.
Just two minutes into the second half, Dinh Bac, who wears the captain armband in this game, earned Vietnam a penalty after he dribbled past Sorawat Phosaman and was fouled by the Thailand goalkeeper. And Dinh Bac made no mistake from the spot as he tricked keeper Phosaman to dive the other way. The gap is now only one goal
In the 60th minute, from a corner kick, the ball was delivered into the box. Under pressure from Vietnam players, Waris Choolthong scored an own goal.
After 90 minutes, the score was 2-2 and the two teams had to enter 30 minutes of extra time.
In the 6th minute of extra time, from Dinh Bac's effort on the left flank, he passed the ball to Thai Son, who found Van Thuan for the shot and goalkeeper Phosaman was forced to punch it out. However, Nguyen Thanh Nhan was there for the tap-in, to raise the score to 3-2 for Vietnam.
With this goal, Vietnam made a impressive comeback to beat Thailand 3-2 after extra time and claim the 33rd SEA Games men's football final. This is the fourth SEA Games men's football gold medal of Vietnam./.
