Vietnam National Team and Indonesia's Lesson

Up to now, 11 AFF Cups have taken place, including since AFF Cup 2004,AFF CupThere is a big change in the competition format, when the semi-finals and finals are played over two legs, home and away, at each team's home ground.

Initially there was no away goals rule after 90 minutes, but there was extra time. Since 2010, the away goals rule has officially come into effect and in this tournament the away goals rule applies in both extra time.

People say that it is not clear why the only team from the archipelago that has reached the final 5 times so far has failed. The teams that had favorable results in the first leg all became AFF Cup champions, although not all teams returned home with 3 points.

Most of them are champions

With the 2-2 draw between the host team Malaysia and Vietnam at Bukit Jalil Stadium, for the first time there was a draw in the first leg of the final. All 7 matches that have taken place have had a difference, even 3 goals.

The AFF Cup coronation venue is ready to welcome Park Hang-seo and his team. Photo: VFF

In the 2004 AFF Cup final, the Singapore team defeated Indonesia 3-1 in the first leg. In the second leg, the Lion Island team continued to win 2-1 to win the Southeast Asian championship. Three years later, in the 2007 AFF Cup, Singapore continued to dominate the first leg when they beat Thailand 2-1 at home. In the second leg in Bangkok, Singapore drew with host Thailand with a score of 1-1 and successfully defended the championship.

Next came the 2008 AFF Cup with the first championship of the Vietnamese team. In the first leg, the Vietnamese team under the direction of Mr. H. Calisto excellently defeated Thailand with a score of 2-1 right in Bangkok. In the second leg, a late goal by Cong Vinh helped our team draw 1-1 with Thailand and for the first time won the championship with a total score of 3-2.

At the AFF Cup 2010, it was the Malaysians' turn to be crowned champions for the first time. At home at Bukit Jalil, the Malaysian team crushed Indonesia 3-0 despite a 1-5 defeat in the group stage. In the return leg, they scored first but surprisingly let the visitors come back to score 1-2 but in the end, Malaysia still won the championship with a total score of 4-2.

At the 2012 AFF Cup and AFF CupIn 2014, both Singapore and Thailand won the championship with victories in the first leg, despite losing the second leg at home. Their losers were Thailand (won 3-1 and lost 0-1) and Malaysia (won 2-0 and lost 2-3). It seems to be a rule of the field that is difficult to explain precisely.

Except Indonesia

The only team to date that has not been able to be crowned champions despite winning the first leg is Indonesia in the 2016 AFF Cup. At that time, the Indonesian team led by coach Alfred Riedl beat Thailand 2-1 in the first leg, and it seemed like the championship was in their pocket, but they unexpectedly lost 0-2 in the second leg at home.

Indonesian players at AFF Cup 2016. Photo: Internet

Until now, Indonesians still cannot explain their somewhat miserable fate in the AFF Cup when they have reached the finals empty-handed 5 times. After this event, coach Alfred Riedl, who also missed out on the gold medal countless times while working in Vietnam, was called “Mr. Second Place”.

In addition to the professional factor, playing away but winning right on the opponent's field, the psychological factor is also the reason why the teams playing the second leg of the final at home can win the cup.

With such historical statistics, it means that Park Hang-seo and his team have more chances than the Malaysian team. But it is worth noting that this is the first AFF Cup final where the first leg ended in a draw, meaning the gap between the two teams is the smallest.

Still need to be careful to avoid Indonesia lesson!