Brian Jeffrey
Vietnam Secures Victory Over Thailand in 2024 ASEAN Cup Final First Leg
On January 2, at Viet Tri Stadium in Phu Tho Province, Vietnam emerged victorious against Thailand, thanks to two goals from Nguyen Xuan Son scored in the 59th and 73rd minutes.
Despite Thailand’s Chalermsak Aukkee finding the net in the 82nd minute, which kept their chances alive, the first leg ended with Vietnam in a favorable position heading into the second leg in Bangkok on January 5.
According to ESPN, Xuan Son has been an instrumental player for Vietnam, playing a vital role in their quest for the ASEAN Cup title in 2024.
“Xuan Son consistently proves to be a pivotal player in each match, driving Vietnam toward their third ASEAN Cup victory,” the report stated.
While individual talent is essential, the success of a team relies heavily on the collaboration of all players and a solid defense.
Nevertheless, it is widely accepted that Vietnam’s proximity to the title in 2024 owes much to the contributions of naturalized attacker Nguyen Xuan Son, especially as they seek their first championship since 2018.
ESPN highlighted Xuan Son’s remarkable scoring record throughout the tournament:
During the group stage, he scored twice in Vietnam’s 5-0 victory over Myanmar, placing them at the top of Group B.
In the semifinals, he netted three goals over two matches against Singapore, guiding Vietnam to an overwhelming 5-1 aggregate win.
In the first leg of the final, he troubled the Thai defense with two crucial goals, securing the win for Vietnam.
The report emphasized his resilience during the match, noting that after a tough first half, Xuan Son broke the deadlock with his quiet goal-scoring ability in the 59th minute.
Later, in the 73rd minute, he capitalized on a defensive error by Chalermsak Aukkee, sprinted past the defenders, and scored with an accurate shot into the far corner, extending Vietnam’s lead.
Although he missed a chance for a hat-trick, Thailand reclaimed some momentum with Aukkee’s header in the 82nd minute, giving them a chance heading into the second leg.
Nevertheless, ESPN warned that Thailand must focus on containing Xuan Son, the player likely to be the key to Vietnam’s success in claiming the 2024 ASEAN Cup title.
