Why does the Vietnamese team often win against Thailand in the finals?

How did Vietnam compete?

Both times the Vietnamese team defeated Thailand in the AFF Cup finals (2008. 2024), we were leading in the first leg, before we made it impossible for our opponents to turn the situation around in the second leg.

Celebrating victory in Thailand

Vietnam team won the championship right on Thai soil

In terms of expertise, the Vietnamese team may be slightly inferior to Thailand in regional tournaments, but in terms of spirit, the Vietnamese players are no less than any opponent. In fact, we are somewhat better than our opponents in terms of spirit at decisive moments.

The second leg of the final last night (5.1) was a vivid example. Thailand was better than the Vietnamese team in terms of ball possession time and number of shots, proving that they were still more even than the Vietnamese team. However, the Vietnamese players still won and in terms of score, they were still successful in winning the cup.

Prime Minister praises Vietnam team but emphasizes humility and striving

That comes from the fiery spirit, resilience and a bit of coolness of the Vietnamese players at decisive moments. These are the factors that the Thai players lack. Weerathep Pomphan received a red card while no Vietnamese player received a similar card, proving that the Vietnamese players are more alert and cool.

Home field advantage cannot help Thailand stop the Vietnamese team

This spirit was also demonstrated by the Vietnamese players in the final match of the AFF Cup 2008. That year, coach Henrique Calisto's team beat Thailand right at Rajamangala Stadium (in Bangkok) in the first leg, before drawing with the opponent in the second leg at home, eventually winning 3-2 after 2 matches in the final. Not many teams in Southeast Asia can beat Thailand right at Rajamangala Stadium time and time again, like the Vietnamese team can do.

In 2008, the decisive equalizer of the Vietnamese team in the second leg of the AFF Cup 2008 final was scored by striker Le Cong Vinh in the extra minutes of the second half. This year, the goal that sealed the 3-2 victory in the second leg of the final last night was also scored by Hai Long in the extra minutes of the second half (minute... 90+20). The Vietnamese team did not give up, the Vietnamese players did not give up even when pushed into a difficult situation. That is something that the Thai team rarely sees from their other opponents in the Southeast Asian region.

When Thailand played in the AFF Cup final against Indonesia, or even Malaysia, they did not face as many difficulties as when playing against the Vietnamese team. Only teams that are afraid of losing easily lose to Thailand. As for the Vietnamese team, when we have reached the final of the Southeast Asian tournaments, we are not afraid of the Golden Temple team, we are not afraid of losing even though we are sometimes put under a lot of pressure by Thailand, even when the opponent uses tricks to gain the upper hand (Supachok Sarachat's unfair-play goal last night).

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Source: https://thanhnien.vn/vi-sao-doi-tuyen-viet-nam-thuong-thang-the-truoc-thai-lan-o-cac-tran-chung-ket-185250106142223065.htm