Drawing with Thailand, Vietnam becomes the former champion of the AFF Cup.

Hoang Duc expressed regret as Vietnam missed many opportunities that could have been converted into goals. Photo: Internet

Having lost 0-2 in the first leg against the Thai team, this match is predicted to be very difficult for the coach's team.Park Hang-seo.

To avoid being predictable, Coach Park made five substitutions compared to the previous match. The biggest surprise was that Duc Chinh started instead of Cong Phuong. The three forwards for Vietnam in this second leg match were Van Duc, Tien Linh, and Duc Chinh.Quang HaiHe will play the role of a free-roaming midfielder, and with the qualities of a star, he is expected to explode at the right moment to decide the match.

On the other side of the pitch, Polking made no secret of his defensive style of play, making two substitutions from the previous match to strengthen his back line.

With the task of winning by at least two goals, the Golden Star Warriors entered the match with great determination. The Vietnamese team played a high-pressing game from the start. The strong tackling ability of the forwards prevented Thailand from building up play in our half. The presence of two highly skilled players, Quang Hai and Phan Van Duc, caused considerable confusion for Coach Polking's defense.

Coach Park's players pushed the pace of the game very high from the very first minutes. Creating tremendous pressure, the Vietnamese team had many clear-cut opportunities.

In the 4th minute of the match, following a scramble in Thailand's penalty area, Quang Hai took a shot with his right foot, sending the ball straight to goalkeeper Chatchai, who was already in position.

The Vietnamese players' style of play is highly versatile, ranging from attacking down the flanks and then passing the ball back to the second line for a shot. Or they employ intricate central passing combinations, followed by through passes between the opposing full-backs and center-backs, a tactic that Coach Park's players apply quite skillfully.

Proof of those coordinated plays was the clear scoring opportunity for the Vietnamese team in the 23rd minute of the match. From a pass by Quang Hai, Tan Tai sprinted forward from the right wing to receive the ball, then unleashed a powerful shot, but the ball went over the crossbar.

To defend against Vietnam's attacks, the Thai defenders did not hesitate to commit numerous fouls. Photo: Internet

For over 30 minutes of the match, Thailand had a slight advantage in ball possession, but the chances created were heavily tilted towards the Vietnamese team. Phan Van Duc's mobility and enthusiasm created numerous dangerous opportunities for goalkeeper Chatchai's goal. Duc's efforts were evident in the chance he created in the 35th minute. With a speedy run, the SLNA midfielder forced a Thai defender to commit a foul just outside the penalty area. Quang Hai then took a dangerous free kick, but substitute goalkeeper Siwarak made a successful save.

With highly unpredictable attacks down both flanks, Coach Park's players repeatedly caught the Thai central defenders off guard. Specifically, in the added time of the first half, the Golden Star Warriors had a clear opportunity, but Quang Hai unfortunately missed. It came from a move down the left wing by Hong Duy, who delivered a cross into the box for Vietnam's number 19 midfielder, but with no one marking him, the Hanoi FC striker shot over the crossbar.

Overall, in the first half, Park's team had a good game against Thailand. There were many ways to approach Siwarak's goal, but bad luck still clung to our team.

Hoping to create even more pressure, Coach Park immediately brought on Cong Phuong at the start of the second half. With his forte being his skillful and fast dribbling, the HAGL striker was a breath of fresh air in the attacking line. With the spirit of Vietnamese warriors, the players attacked relentlessly. The South Korean coach took a gamble by bringing on Van Toan at the beginning of the second half. To limit Vietnam's attacking power, Coach Polking proactively adopted a defensive "bus-parking" strategy in front of the penalty area.

In the final minutes of the match, our team dominated the game, yet opportunities slipped away right in front of Coach Park's players.

Although they couldn't stage a comeback against Thailand, the spirit and performance of the Vietnamese players were highly commendable. Our team completely dominated the match against their opponents.

With this draw, Thailand has dethroned Vietnam as the reigning AFF Cup champions. There will be much regret for fans, as the Golden Star Warriors were unable to successfully defend their title. But with this golden generation, we have shown a completely different face in the regional arena compared to before. Coach Park's team has demonstrated a higher level of skill in Southeast Asia.

Starting lineup:

Thailand:Chatchai - Narubadin, Bihr, Kritsada, Theerathon - Thitiphan, Sarach, Phitiwat, Chanathip - Teerasil, Pathompon.

Vietnam:Nguyen Manh - Tan Tai, Thanh Chung, Ngoc Hai, Tien Dung, Hong Duy - Quang Hai, Hoang Duc, Van Duc - Tien Linh, Duc Chinh.