Vietnam scored their third goal in extra time after they leveled 2-2 with hosts Thailand in the main 90 minutes of the 33rd SEA Games men's football final to secure the title.
This was the third time in the last four SEA Games men's football final that Vietnam have reached. In the 2019 tournament in the Philippines and the 2022 tournament at home, the team won both of them after defeating Indonesia 3-0 and Thailand 1-0.
Thailand and Vietnam have met five times in the SEA Games final. Thailand won four of those matches. Meanwhile, Vietnam won 1-0 in 2022.
In the final, Vietnam kept the same lineup as the semi-final against the Philippines, while Thailand made three changes.
With the home advantage, Thailand confidently pushed forward right after the whistle.
Vietnam were not overwhelmed by the pressure at Rajamangala Stadium. The players in red confidently held possession and gradually pushed Thailand back into their half.
This is the fourth SEA Games men's football gold medal of Vietnam.
The atmosphere following Vietnam U22’s dramatic 3–2 victory over Thailand U22 in the men’s football final at the 33rd SEA Games was truly special and unforgettable.
People poured onto the streets to celebrate the triumph. Thousands of motorcyclists formed long convoys, cheering and chanting “Vietnam are champions”. The streets were awash in red, as national flags fluttered everywhere and the blare of horns filled the air.
Moments like these ignite a powerful surge of love for the nation and for sport. It was not merely a victory in a football match, but an occasion that united the national spirit, rekindling collective pride in the strength of Vietnamese sport and the enduring power of solidarity./.
