The Vietnam national football team saw its impressive 27-match unbeaten streak come to an end after losing 2-0 to Thailand. Coach Kim Sang-sik acknowledged the impact of the injury to key player Nguyen Quang Hai and emphasized the need for tactical improvements ahead of their final match against Pakistan.
On September 29, local time, Vietnam faced Thailand in the second group stage match of the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 at Jalak Harupat Stadium in Bandung, Indonesia. With this defeat, Vietnam remains at 3 points, eliminating their chances of finishing first in the group and advancing to the finals, regardless of the outcomes of the remaining matches.
This loss also marked the end of Vietnam's 27-match unbeaten run, which began after a 2-1 defeat to Thailand in a friendly on September 10, 2024. During this period, Vietnam achieved 22 wins and 5 draws, winning back-to-back Southeast Asian championships and surpassing Thailand's previous record of 21 unbeaten matches set between 1995 and 1996.
In light of Quang Hai's injury, Coach Kim made significant changes to the starting lineup that had secured a 1-0 victory against the Philippines in the first match, altering nearly half of the team. Nguyen Thai Lok and captain Nguyen Dinh Bac were placed in the attack, while Nguyen Hoang Duc, Do Hoang Hen, and Williams Minh Hoang started on the bench.
Thailand broke the deadlock in the 10th minute of the first half. Sarach Yooyen struck a powerful shot from about 22 meters out, which sailed over goalkeeper Patrick Le Giang, putting Vietnam in a position to chase the game early on. Vietnam had a chance to equalize, but a goal was disallowed after a VAR review confirmed an offside.
Statistics highlighted Vietnam's struggles in front of goal. Despite holding 58% possession and attempting 12 shots, only 4 were on target. In contrast, Thailand, with 42% possession, managed to place 7 of their 9 shots on goal.
As Vietnam pressed for an equalizer, Thailand lowered their defensive line and sought counterattack opportunities. In stoppage time, Chaiyaphon Buran struck again, breaking through Vietnam's offside line and scoring one-on-one against Le Giang, sealing the match at 2-0.
After the match, Coach Kim explained that he had prepared different tactics for each half. In the first half, he focused on using three midfielders to disrupt the opponent's attacks, while in the second half, he added more attackers, believing that Thailand's players were tiring.
"However, we failed to score, which is very disappointing and somewhat frustrating," Kim said. He acknowledged that there were areas for improvement in their tactical preparations and stated he would analyze match footage to identify necessary changes for the upcoming game against Pakistan. He added, "As a coach, I need to evaluate and analyze the entire team to find the best solutions and help the players maximize their abilities."
In response, Vietnamese netizens expressed disappointment with Kim's player selections. One fan remarked, "Why apologize when the team lacks skill? Focus on professionalism rather than external factors," while another pointed out, "Even with several naturalized players from Brazil, England, and France, we still lost," criticizing the expansion of naturalized players.
Some fans noted, "While wins and losses are inevitable, the content of the last two matches has revealed our current level." There were also voices questioning the selection of certain players and the team's defensive strategies, with some suggesting that the failure to utilize the best players from the start was the coach's responsibility.
Despite the loss to Thailand, Vietnam remains in contention for second place in Group B. Thailand secured the top spot with 6 points from 2 wins, confirming their advancement to the finals. Vietnam will face Pakistan in their final match on October 2, where a non-defeat will secure them second place and a chance to compete for third place against the second and third place teams from Group A.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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