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On Vietnam's journey to glory, the name Xuân Son, once relatively unknown, has become familiar among Vietnamese fans. His goals, his tireless steps, his determined gaze, his bright and radiant smile, and his goal celebration with a military salute remind us of the legendary Nguyễn Hồng Sơn… these are the marks that Xuân Son has made in the minds of Vietnamese supporters, even though he officially became Vietnamese just a few months ago. Though he couldn’t participate in the initial group-stage matches due to FIFA regulations, once he took the field, Xuân Son delivered. With five appearances, Xuân Son scored seven goals in the 2024 ASEAN Cup, leading the national team to the final. However, a serious injury forced him to leave the pitch in the 32nd minute of the second leg of the final. The remaining players knew the responsibility was now on each of them; each position had to push themselves beyond their limits to secure the championship for the fans and honor their teammate who had given everything for Vietnam’s quest for the title.
Tuấn Hải played a key role in 2 out of the 3 goals scored by Vietnam in the second leg of the final
Back at the Rajamangala Stadium on the evening of January 5, Vietnam’s national team displayed the true spirit of warriors. They fought with the fire of national pride and for a teammate who had sacrificed everything for the goal of victory. "The Red Army" was rewarded for their tireless efforts with the support of millions of Vietnamese "hearts."
In the 8th minute, Tuấn Hải sprinted past Thailand’s defense and scored the opening goal following a defensive error by the Thai team. However, in a moment of lapse, Ngọc Tân made a mistake by "clearing the field" straight into the path of Thailand’s Davis. With a perfect finish, Thailand’s number 13 leveled the score at 1-1. This equalizer caused concern among Vietnam’s supporters, as it gave Thailand a boost of confidence. On the other hand, it also affected the mentality of coach Kim Sang-sik’s players. The memories of past defeats where Vietnam had conceded in similar situations made many believe the team was headed for another “unfulfilled” championship. The unsettling turn of events continued just four minutes after Thailand’s equalizer when Vietnam lost their star striker, Nguyễn Xuân Son. During a fast-paced dribble and pass, Son suffered a serious injury that forced him to leave the pitch on a stretcher. Thailand let out a sigh of relief as the player who had been a constant threat to their defense was no longer on the pitch. The first half ended 1-1, with Vietnam leading 3-2 on aggregate.
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The Vietnamese team celebrates after 110 minutes of play
In the second half, Thailand dominated and scored a goal by Supachok in the 64th minute which sparked controversy for its lack of fair play. Despite global criticism of this goal, it was still allowed. Everything returned to square one, with the score tied at 3-3. However, " "Karma will catch up", in the 74th minute, Thailand was reduced to 10 players after Pomphun received his second yellow card. In the 82nd minute, Tuấn Hải made a perfect cross that was inadvertently put into his own net by Hemviboon, giving Vietnam a 4-3 lead on aggregateIn the dying moments of the match, Thailand launched a desperate attack in search of a goal but was unable to find the net. After a failed Thai attack, the ball found its way to Hai Long, who calmly slotted the ball into an empty net from midfield, making it 3-2 in the final and securing Vietnam’s 5-3 victory on aggregate.
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Thank You, Xuân Son!
With this victory, Vietnam claimed their third ASEAN Cup title in history. It was the perfect conclusion for a team that had prepared meticulously and seriously, driven by an intense desire to win in every step and every breath of its members, especially the outstanding contributions of the tournament’s best player and top scorer: Nguyễn Xuân Son. It is no exaggeration to say: "Thank you, Son!"
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