FIFA ASEAN Cup: Thailand 'Stop' Vietnam 27 matches unbeaten
Thailand's national football team secured their place in the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 final with a game to spare, defeating Vietnam 2-0 in their second Group B fixture at Si Jalak Harupat Stadium in Bandung, Indonesia, on September 29.
The victory extended Thailand's perfect start to the tournament to two wins from two matches, guaranteeing the 94th-ranked side's qualification for the championship decider regardless of the outcome of their remaining group fixture.
Vietnam arrived in Bandung having gone unbeaten in 27 consecutive internationals, a run stretching back to a friendly defeat to Thailand in September 2024. That sequence included Kim Sang-sik's side successfully defending their ASEAN Hyundai Cup title against the very same opponents just weeks earlier, before opening their FIFA ASEAN Cup campaign with a positive result against the Philippines. Ending that streak in Bandung represents one of Thailand's most significant results of the year, given the rivalry's recent history and Vietnam's dominance over the region.
Head coach Anthony Hudson named Saranon Anuin in goal, with captain Chanathip Songkrasin leading the attacking line alongside Khakhana Khamyok and Supachai Jaided against the previously unbeaten Vietnamese side.
Thailand made the perfect start, taking the lead inside the opening ten minutes. Supachai Jaided delivered a ball into the penalty area that was deflected by the Vietnamese defense straight into the path of Sarach Yooyen, who fired home right-footed to give the War Elephants an early advantage.
Vietnam's best opportunity to level the score arrived in the 37th minute when Nguyen Tai Loc broke clear into the penalty area and chipped the ball over the advancing Saranon Anuin. However, the goal was chalked off after the video assistant referee flagged an offside infringement, allowing Thailand to carry their 1-0 advantage into the interval.
Thailand continued to press for a second goal after the restart, coming close in the 52nd minute when Sarach Yooyen curled a right-footed free kick that struck the post, narrowly failing to double the lead.
Hudson made his first substitution in the 60th minute, introducing Teerasak Poeiphimai in place of Khakhana Khamyok. Ten minutes later, Thailand created another opening when Supanan Bureerat laid the ball off to Chanathip Songkrasin, who turned and struck from the edge of the box, though his effort drifted wide of the target.
With the match delicately poised, Hudson made a bold triple substitution in the 77th minute, introducing Anan Yodsangwan, Waris Chuthong and Seksan Ratri in place of Supachai Jaided, Supanan Bureerat and goalscorer Sarach Yooyen, injecting fresh legs into the Thai attack for the closing stages.
The changes nearly paid immediate dividends in the 81st minute when Waris Chuthong delivered a cross from the right flank that found Peeradon Chamrasamee, whose header was well saved and tipped behind by Vietnam goalkeeper Patrik Le Giang. Hudson made his final change three minutes later, sending on Chaiyapol Odton for Peeradon Chamrasamee.
Thailand's patience was rewarded deep into second-half stoppage time. In the 90+3rd minute, substitute Anan Yodsangwan threaded a defense-splitting pass into the path of fellow substitute Chaiyapol Odton, who broke clear into the penalty area and slotted the ball past Le Giang to make it 2-0, securing Thailand's second victory of the campaign and confirming the end of Vietnam's long unbeaten sequence in the dying moments.
The result means Thailand have already guaranteed their place in the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 final, having won both of their opening group matches with one fixture still to play. The War Elephants will close out their Group B campaign against 135th-ranked Philippines at Si Jalak Harupat Stadium in Bandung on October 2 at 4:00 PM, though the outcome of that match will have no bearing on Thailand's already-secured progression to the championship decider.
For Vietnam, the defeat is a significant setback both psychologically and competitively, ending a run that had defined Kim Sang-sik's side for more than a year and leaving Kim's team with work to do to salvage their own campaign when they close out the group against Pakistan on October 2.
Credit Photo : FA Thailand
