Brian Jeffrey
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Vietnam triumphed in the 2024 AFF Cup final, overcoming Thailand with a nail-biting 3–2 win in the decisive match played at Rajamangala Stadium, securing their third title.
Path to Success
Entering the final match with a slight edge after a 2–1 win in the first leg, Vietnam proceeded cautiously amidst a vibrant crowd in Bangkok.
The match began favorably for Vietnam when Pham Tuan Hai scored in the 8th minute after exploiting a slip in the Thai defense, lifting the score to 1–0.
Thailand responded with an equalizer by Ben Davis in the 28th minute, sending a well-placed shot beyond goalkeeper Nguyen Dinh Trieu after a defensive mix-up from Vietnam.
Before halftime, Vietnam faced a setback when star player Nguyen Xuan Son injured himself during a play and had to leave the pitch on a stretcher, impacting the team’s attack, though they remained collected.
Intense Second Half
The situation shifted in favor of Vietnam in the 75th minute when Weerathep Pomphan received a second yellow card for a foul on Quang Hai.
Taking advantage of the numerical superiority, Vietnam equalized in the 82nd minute via a fortunate deflection off defender Pansa Hemviboon from Tuan Hai’s shot.
The thrilling match concluded with Hai Long’s long-range goal in stoppage time as he capitalized on Thailand’s advancing goalkeeper after a corner, securing the victory.
Crowning the Winners
Combining their 3–2 win in this match with the 2–1 score from the first leg brought Vietnam to a 5–3 aggregate victory, marking their third AFF Cup title after past wins in 2008 and 2018.
Nguyen Dinh Trieu earned recognition as the tournament’s Best Goalkeeper, while Nguyen Xuan Son, despite his injury, was awarded the Golden Boot for netting seven goals and was named the Most Valuable Player.
Coach Kim Sang-sik expressed immense pride in his team’s resilience, emphasizing the hard-fought victory in his remarks.
Contributing significantly to the victory, Pham Tuan Hai stated, “We fought with all our hearts for the injured Xuan Son and for our nation’s pride. Thank you to all the fans for their support.”
Thien Binh
