Vietnam U22 team came from behind to win 3-2 and claim the gold medal at the 33rd SEA Games.
Trailing by two goals, the Vietnam U22 team staged a dramatic comeback to defeat Thailand U22 3-2 in extra time, winning the gold medal in men's football at the 33rd SEA Games.
On the evening of December 18th, the Vietnam U22 team wrote a fairytale story in the SEA Games 33 men's football final, staging a comeback to defeat host nation Thailand U22 3-2 after 120 minutes of play, thereby winning a historic gold medal. The players' courageous performance and never-give-up spirit were highly praised by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
Nightmare of the first half
The match started with difficulty for Vietnam U22 as the home team Thailand took an early lead. In the 20th minute, Yotsakorn Burapha scored with a dangerous long-range free kick, giving the "War Elephants" a 1-0 lead. The disadvantage compounded when, in the 31st minute, captain Seksan Ratree doubled the lead with a speedy dribble and a decisive shot from outside the penalty area, ending the first half with a 2-0 advantage for Thailand.
A spectacular comeback after the break.
It seemed as though the gold medal was far out of reach, but the U22 Vietnam team made a strong comeback in the second half. In the 47th minute, captain Nguyen Dinh Bac earned a penalty and successfully converted it to reduce the deficit to 1-2, rekindling hope for the entire team.
The pressure was relentless, and what was bound to happen eventually did. In the 60th minute, from a corner kick, Thailand's defender Waris Choolthong awkwardly scored an own goal, bringing the game back to a 2-2 draw. Vietnam U22 even came close to scoring a third goal in the 72nd minute when Nguyen Hieu Minh's header hit the post.
The golden moment in extra time.
After a 2-2 draw in regulation time, the two teams went into extra time to determine the winner. Here, the resilience of the Vietnam U22 team shone through. In the 96th minute, amidst a chaotic situation in front of the goal, goalkeeper Sorawat Phosaman's indecisive handling allowed Nguyen Thanh Nhan to pounce and tap the ball into the net from close range, securing a 3-2 victory.
This victory not only helped the Vietnam U22 team reclaim the gold medal but also ended Thailand's title drought at the SEA Games since 2017. The AFC website described it as one of the most dramatic finals in history, praising the tenacious and unyielding fighting spirit of the Vietnam U22 champions.
