Thailand End Vietnam's 27-Match Unbeaten Run to Book FIFA ASEAN Cup Final Spot
Sarach Yooyen and Chaiyaphon Otton score as Thailand beat Vietnam 2-0 in Bandung to reach the FIFA ASEAN Cup final with a game to spare.
Thailand have booked their place in the FIFA ASEAN Cup final. On Tuesday they beat Vietnam 2-0 at the Si Jalak Harupat Stadium in Bandung, which also brought Vietnam's long unbeaten run to an end.
An early long-range strike from Sarach Yooyen and a stoppage-time goal on the break from Chaiyaphon Otton were enough for the War Elephants. They now have six points from two Group B matches and cannot be caught at the top, with one round still to play.
How the match unfolded
Thailand took the lead in the 10th minute. Vietnam failed to clear a loose ball and Sarach hit a shot from around 20 metres that beat goalkeeper Patrik Le Giang.
Vietnam thought they had equalised in the 37th minute when Nguyen Tai Loc finished from a Vo Hoang Minh Khoa pass. A VAR review ruled the goal out for offside.
Thailand nearly made it 2-0 around the 80th minute, but Le Giang saved Peeradol Chamratsamee's header. Vietnam pushed hard in the closing stages, and Thailand caught them on the counter in the third minute of stoppage time. Chaiyaphon ran onto a through ball from Anan Yodsangwal and finished to make the game safe.
Revenge for the ASEAN Cup final
The win carried extra meaning for Thailand. About a month ago, Vietnam beat them in the two-legged ASEAN Cup 2026 final, winning 2-0 in Thailand and drawing 2-2 at home to lift the trophy.
According to VietNamNet, Vietnam arrived in Bandung on a 27-match unbeaten run under Korean coach Kim Sang-sik, with 23 wins and four draws. Their last defeat had been in September 2024. That run is now over.
Kim apologises to fans
Kim did not hide his disappointment. VnExpress reported that he apologised to Vietnamese supporters after the match, said his side had real problems in a fierce first-half midfield battle, and said he felt ashamed that Vietnam failed to score.
He had tried an unusual three-man midfield in the first half, then brought on Nguyen Hoang Duc at the break to add more creativity. Thailand, coached by Anthony Hudson, held on to keep a second straight clean sheet after their opening 4-0 win over Pakistan.
Group B standings after two rounds
- Thailand – 6 points (scored 6, conceded 0)
- Vietnam – 3 points (1-2)
- Philippines – 1 point (2-3)
- Pakistan – 1 point (2-6)
As Indonesian outlet detik noted, Thailand stay top even if they lose their last game and Vietnam win theirs. If the two finish level on points, Thailand go through on their head-to-head win.
What's next
The final round of Group B is on Friday, 2 October. Thailand play the Philippines and Vietnam meet Pakistan. Vietnam are in pole position for second place and a third-place play-off. The FIFA ASEAN Cup final is set for Monday, 5 October in Jakarta.
For Malaysian fans, that means whoever wins Group A, which could be Harimau Malaya, will face Thailand in the final.
Key takeaways
- Thailand beat Vietnam 2-0 in Bandung through goals from Sarach Yooyen (10') and Chaiyaphon Otton (90+3').
- Vietnam had a goal ruled out for offside by VAR in the 37th minute.
- The result ends Vietnam's 27-match unbeaten run under Kim Sang-sik.
- Thailand are guaranteed first place in Group B and will play in the final on 5 October in Jakarta.
FAQ
Who will Thailand face in the FIFA ASEAN Cup final? They will face the Group A winner. Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore can all still finish first going into Thursday's final round.
Can Vietnam still finish second in Group B? Yes. Vietnam have three points and play Pakistan on Friday. The second-placed team in Group B goes into the third-place play-off.
Why is Thailand's top spot already secure? Even if Vietnam draw level on six points, Thailand beat them head-to-head. Thailand stay first whatever happens on Friday.
Sources: FIFA, Antara, VnExpress, VietNamNet, detikSport, Time News