Fortune Favors Vietnam! Coach Kim Sang-sik Leads Team to Historic Consecutive Titles

The Vietnamese national football team, led by Coach Kim Sang-sik, has reached the summit of the ASEAN Hyundai Cup, achieving consecutive tournament titles for the first time in history.

Vietnam drew 2-2 with Thailand in the second leg of the final at Mỹ Đình National Stadium in Hanoi, Vietnam, today (the 27th, KST), securing both goals through own goals by the opponents.

Having earned a dominant 2-0 victory in the first leg away match on the 22nd, Vietnam triumphed with a 4-2 aggregate score across the two legs to lift the championship trophy.

Held every two years, the Hyundai Cup determines the strongest football nation in Southeast Asia and is often called the World Cup of Southeast Asia.

Previously known by names such as the Suzuki Cup and Mitsubishi Cup, the tournament was renamed the Hyundai Cup as Hyundai became the title sponsor in celebration of its 30th anniversary.

After defeating Thailand—the tournament's most successful team with six titles—in the final of the previous 2024 tournament to claim their third title (2008, 2018, and 2024), Vietnam has now secured their fourth title alongside their first-ever consecutive tournament victory.

Coach Park Hang-seo guided the Vietnamese national team to glory in 2018, while Coach Kim Sang-sik led them to the top in 2024 and 2026.

Coach Kim, who simultaneously helms Vietnam's senior national team and the under-23 (U-23) squad, added another trophy to Vietnamese football following victories at the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) U-23 Championship in July of last year and the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in December.

He also extended his unbeaten streak in A-matches to 26 games (22 wins and 4 draws).

Vietnam continues to rewrite its own national record for the longest consecutive undefeated streak in A-matches, surpassing the previous record of 18 games.

Despite having some breathing room from their convincing win in the first leg, Vietnam struggled on home turf.

In the 12th minute of the first half, they conceded the opening goal to Thailand's Yotsakorn Burapha, who struck a surprise right-footed shot from the right side of the penalty area.

Vietnam leveled the score in the 7th minute of the second half thanks to a stroke of good fortune: a shot by naturalized Brazilian forward Do Hoang Hen hit the goalpost and bounced into the net off the opposing goalkeeper's leg. However, they allowed a second goal to Thailand's Wanchai Jarunongkran in the 40th minute of the second half due to a lapse in defensive concentration.

Protecting a precarious lead into stoppage time, the goddess of fortune smiled upon Vietnam once more.

During a counterattack, a cross from a Vietnamese player was accidentally kicked into his own net by a Thai defender attempting to clear the ball.

As the dramatic draw finalized Vietnam's 4-2 aggregate victory, a sea of red erupted across the stadium, and Coach Kim Sang-sik basked in the joy alongside the home fans.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.