Vietnam has claimed the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup 2024 title after a thrilling 3-2 victory over Thailand in the second leg of the final at the Rajamangala National Stadium in Bangkok.
The match began with Vietnam on the front foot, and their attacking intent paid off early. In the 5th minute, Pham Xuân Manh delivered a precise assist to Pham Tuan Hai, whose left-footed strike from the center of the box found the back of the net. The goal gave Vietnam a 1-0 lead on the night and extended their aggregate advantage to 3-1.
Thailand quickly rallied, and in the 28th minute, Benjamin Davis showcased his brilliance with a stunning right-footed shot from outside the box. The ball sailed into the bottom right corner, leveling the score at 1-1 and narrowing Vietnam’s aggregate lead to 3-2.
However, Vietnam faced a major setback in the 34th minute when key midfielder Nguyen Xuân Son suffered a severe injury, confirmed later as a broken leg. He was replaced by Nguyen Tien Linh, but the incident cast a shadow over the game. The first half ended with the teams tied 1-1, leaving the aggregate score at 3-2 in Vietnam’s favor.
The second half saw Thailand pushing aggressively for goals. In the 64th minute, a well-executed throw-in led to Benjamin Davis setting up Supachok Sarachat, who unleashed a powerful right-footed shot into the top right corner. Thailand surged ahead 2-1 on the night, leveling the aggregate score at 3-3 and reigniting hopes of a comeback.
Despite the pressure, Vietnam demonstrated their resilience. In the 82nd minute, a swift counter-attack forced Thailand’s defender Pansa Hemviboon into an own goal, bringing the score to 2-2 and giving Vietnam a 4-3 lead on aggregate.
Thailand threw everything forward in search of an equalizer to force extra time. However, in the 90+20th minute, a missed opportunity from a Thailand corner allowed Vietnam to capitalize. Nguyen Hai Long delivered a clinical finish on the counter-attack, sealing a 3-2 victory for Vietnam on the night and a 5-3 win on aggregate.
Credit Photo : FA Thailand
