Entering the second leg with a 2-0 advantage from the away first leg, Vietnam maintained the same starting lineup as in the previous match. Meanwhile, Thailand took an aggressive approach, pushing forward and applying pressure from the opening minutes.
In the 8th minute, Van Vi suffered an injury and had to leave the field, with Tuan Tai coming on as his replacement. Just four minutes later, Thailand opened the scoring when Burapha Yotsakon struck from distance following an assist from Ratree to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.
Thailand continued to apply pressure and dominated possession for most of the first half. In the second half, the visitors were awarded a penalty in the 48th minute following a collision inside the penalty area, but Khamyok Kakana failed to convert the opportunity, sending his effort over the crossbar.
Vietnam quickly equalised. In the 52nd minute, following a cross from Hoang Duc, Do Hoang Hen struck the post, with the ball rebounding off goalkeeper Bootprom and into the net to make it 1-1.
The final minutes were highly competitive as Thailand continued to push forward. In the 85th minute, Wanchai Jarunongkran scored to put the visitors ahead 2-1. However, in the 90+4th minute, during a Vietnam counterattack, Wanchai Jarunongkran inadvertently put the ball into his own net while attempting to clear it, helping Vietnam level the match at 2-2.
The 2-2 draw in the second leg, combined with Vietnam’s 2-0 victory in the first leg, secured a 4-2 aggregate win and enabled Vietnam to successfully defend its ASEAN Championship title.
This marked Vietnam’s fourth Southeast Asian championship title, following victories in 2008, 2018 and 2024, and was also the first time Vietnam had successfully defended its title in the region’s premier football tournament.
With the ASEAN Championship 2026 title, Vietnam continues to affirm its position in the region and gain momentum toward its objectives at international competitions in the coming period.
Nguyen Khang