Vietnam claimed a thrilling 5-3 aggregate victory to lift the trophy for the third time, following their previous triumphs in 2008 and 2018. In the first leg, they secured a narrow 2-1 win, setting the stage for a tense second leg at Rajamangala Stadium against defending champions Thailand.
The match started with a bang as Pham Tuan Hai gave Vietnam an early lead in the eighth minute, igniting hopes of a decisive victory. However, Thailand responded in the 28th minute when Ben Davis equalized, keeping the contest alive. The second half saw Thailand’s Supachok Sarachat put his team ahead in the 64th minute, raising the stakes for Vietnam.
The game took a dramatic turn in the 74th minute when Weerathep Pomphan received a red card, leaving Thailand with ten men. Vietnam capitalized on this advantage when Pansa Hemviboon scored an own goal in the 82nd minute, putting Vietnam back in control. Nguyen Hai Long then delivered the final blow, scoring deep into injury time to secure Vietnam’s victory.
This hard-fought win not only earned Vietnam their third championship title but also showcased their resilience and ability to perform under pressure.
