Dinh Bac scores a brace, U22 Vietnam wins opening match.
In the 60th minute, Dinh Bac's goal was initially flagged offside but then allowed; Coach Kim received a yellow card. Thailand apologized for the national anthem incident; CAHN lost points due to a VAR penalty in the 90+1 minute.
The crucial moment came in the 60th minute: Dinh Bac's low shot went straight into the net, the offside flag was raised for Quoc Viet but then lowered after the referees consulted and confirmed the goal. U22 Vietnam secured all three points, Dinh Bac shone with a brace, but the debate over the offside decision immediately engulfed the opening match of the SEA Games 33.
Controversy over the offside situation in the 60th minute and how the refereeing team handled it.
From a dangerous low shot, Dinh Bac put the ball into the net while Quoc Viet moved and jumped in a sensitive position. The assistant referee flagged for offside, and the main referee, Rustam Lutfullin, initially disallowed the goal. After a brief consultation, he changed his decision, awarding the goal to Vietnam U22.
A FIFA-level referee officiating in the V.League explained: Quoc Viet did not participate in the play and did not obstruct the opposing goalkeeper's view or ability to save. "In my opinion, Quoc Viet was not offside," he stated. In principle, when a player is in an offside position but does not affect the play, the goal is still allowed.
Emotional reaction: Dinh Bac was stunned, Coach Kim received a yellow card.
In the brief moment between the flag being raised and the whistle blowing, Dinh Bac was stunned to see his goal disallowed. Emotions erupted when the decision was reversed. On the sidelines, the U22 Vietnam coaching staff erupted in reaction; Coach Kim Sang-sik was furious about the initial flag raise and received a yellow card, even though the goal was later confirmed.
Coach Kim's tactical message: Winning but not yet achieving the desired effect.
From a professional standpoint, coach Kim Sang-sik emphasized that the team lacked sharpness in finishing against U22 Laos: “We had an important victory, but our attack still has areas that need improvement. Dinh Bac had an excellent game, but we need to do better in scoring goals.”
The message is clear: the result brings 3 points, but the efficiency in converting opportunities needs to improve in the upcoming matches. Given the short and intense schedule of the SEA Games 33, effectiveness in the penalty area will make all the difference.
The national anthem incident at Rajamangala and the apology.
Not only on the field, the atmosphere at Rajamangala was overshadowed by a ceremonial mishap: the national anthem was not played, forcing the U22 Vietnam and U22 Laos players to sing in silence. Thai media outlets such as Siam Sport and Thairath criticized the organizers for this mistake on the opening day of the 33rd SEA Games.
Later, in a letter to the President of the Vietnam Olympic Committee, the Thai side expressed their apologies for the sound system malfunction that occurred during the flag-raising ceremony.
A broader perspective: CAHN's winning streak was broken by VAR in the 90+1 minute.
At the club level, Hanoi Police suffered a disappointing defeat against Buriram United. Leading thanks to a goal from Leo Artur and playing with a man advantage, coach Mano Polking's team still couldn't leave the field with a victory due to a penalty in the 90+1 minute decided by VAR. The result was a point in the Shopee Cup, in a match where they were very close to winning.
Significance for the SEA Games 33 journey
A brace and the composure of Dinh Bac helped U22 Vietnam start with 3 points, but coach Kim's reminder about finishing efficiency shows the team still has a lot of room for improvement. In a tournament where even small mistakes make a difference, controlling moments like the 60th minute — both technically and emotionally — will shape U22 Vietnam's path.
