AFF Cup Final First Leg: Vietnam Draws with Thailand at My Dinh Stadium

The celebration of the Vietnamese team players in the first leg of the AFF Cup 2022 final. Photo: Hai Hoang

The first leg of the 2022 AFF Cup final is considered a dream match between the two teams considered the strongest in Southeast Asia. In the past, this was also a fateful confrontation. At the AFF Cup held in 2021, the Vietnamese team had to stop at the semi-finals, losing 2-0 to the Thai team. Therefore, this rematch is an opportunity for coach Park Hang-seo and his team to reclaim the old debt. And above all, coach Park wants to win the championship to give to Vietnamese fans before he ends his duty of leading the team.

The heat between the two teams considered the strongest in Southeast Asia has made My Dinh Stadium covered in bright red. This will be an effective mental medicine for coach Park Hang-seo and his team to achieve positive results at home.

Tien Linh's powerful header was unstoppable by the Thai goalkeeper. Photo: Hai Hoang

In this match, the Vietnamese captain only changed one position in the starting lineup compared to the 2-0 victory over Indonesia in the second leg of the semi-final. Center back Thanh Chung did not start but was replaced by Duy Manh. Vietnam played according to the 5-3-2 formation with the striker pair Tuan Hai - Tien Linh. 3 midfielders Quang Hai, Hung Dung, Hoang Duc, 5 defenders Van Hau, Tan Tai, Tien Dung, Ngoc Hai and Duy Manh. In the above lineup, we can see that Que Ngoc Hai is the only Nghe An player that coach Park chose in the starting lineup. However, he is considered one of the most important players in the Korean strategist's playing style.

Que Ngoc Hai made an accurate pass for Tien Linh to score the opening goal. Photo: Hai Hoang

As the home team, when the opening whistle blew, the Vietnamese team proactively launched an attack to take the lead against the opponent. The mobility of the midfield trio Quang Hai, Hung Dung, and Hoang Duc made the home team's ball control ability much more prominent. In addition, Tuan Hai's aggressiveness created diversity in the approaches to Kampon's goal.

In the 10th minute, after a series of ball rotations in the central area, Tien Linh made a pass to Tuan Hai. The striker used his speed to eliminate the opposing defender, before shooting diagonally, but the ball went wide of Kampon's post.

On the other side of the front line, Thailand also showed their danger when they performed quite smoothly in defensive counter-attacking style. The ability to change the state well of coach Polking's students opened up quite sharp attacking routes.

In the 14th minute, from a counter-attack on the right wing, Adisak escaped and fired a powerful shot, but goalkeeper Van Lam made an excellent save.

However, under pressure from many sides of Vietnam, the Thai defense was confused in defense. The difference, creating surprise for the Thai defenders was Que Ngoc Hai's ability to attack. The captain of Song Lam Nghe An created for Tien Linh to open the score for the Vietnamese team in the 24th minute. From Hoang Duc's long pass to the right wing, Ngoc Hai turned the ball very accurately for Tien Linh to rush in and head the ball into Kampon's net.

Vietnamese fans covered My Dinh Stadium in red. Photo: Hai Hoang

After conceding the goal, coach Polking instructed his players to push up their formation to put pressure on the opponent's field. Thailand, with their ability to keep the ball and pass the ball very smoothly in short areas, caused many difficulties for Van Lam.

The most notable situation that the away team created in the first 45 minutes of the match came from Bunmathan's free kick in front of the Vietnamese penalty area. The Thai captain fired a left-footed shot, hitting the crossbar and bouncing out of Van Lam's goal. Before that, Tan Tai made a mistake when he let the ball touch his hand, after a series of varied attacks by the away team.

In the second half, Thailand immediately put pressure on the home team's field. Duy Manh's position was chosen by coach Polking's students to exploit. And what worried Vietnamese fans came in the 48th minute, when Thailand equalized the score of the match. Bunmathan's pass eliminated Duy Manh. The ball reached Poramet's feet, this player made a move to bypass Que Ngoc Hai, then shot diagonally, scoring the equalizer 1-1.

Hung Dung had a hard day at work against Thailand's technically skilled midfielders. Photo: Hai Hoang

Minutes after the equalizer, Chamrasamee silenced My Dinh Stadium again, raising the score to 2-1 for Thailand. From Bunmathan's classy pass, Chamrasamee escaped into the open space, unleashing a shot that defeated goalkeeper Van Lam.

After scoring the goal, Thailand actively played a crowded defense, making it difficult for Vietnam's strikers to approach Kampon's goal.

However, with the resilience of Coach Park's students, the Vietnamese team equalized the score in the final minutes of the match. From a corner kick on the left wing of the home team, creating a chaotic situation in front of the opponent's goal. The ball came to Thanh Binh's feet, this central defender passed it back just enough for Van Thanh to make a powerful kick, defeating goalkeeper Kampon.

Van Thanh celebrates after scoring the equalizer in the final minute of the match. Photo: Hai Hoang

2-2 was also the final score of the first leg of the AFF Cup 2022 final. On January 16, the second leg will take place at Rajamangala Stadium in Thailand./.