Trailing 2-0 at halftime under intense pressure at Rajamangala Stadium, the “Golden Star Warriors” overturned the deficit with a second-half resurgence and an extra-time winner, silencing the home crowd and sealing a deserved championship.
Thailand U22 entered the final as overwhelming favorites, having scored 10 goals and conceded just once in three matches en route to the title clash. Playing on home soil, coach Thawatchai’s side surprised Vietnam with an aggressive high-pressing strategy from the opening minutes, pinning Kim Sang-sik’s men deep in their own half.
Thailand U22 entered the final as overwhelming favorites, having scored 10 goals and conceded just once in three matches en route to the title clash.
Playing on home soil, coach Thawatchai’s side surprised Vietnam with an aggressive high-pressing strategy from the opening minutes, pinning Kim Sang-sik’s men deep in their own half.
Vietnam initially struggled to cope. In the 19th minute, Burapha opened the scoring with a superb free kick from more than 25 meters after Quoc Cuong conceded a foul, leaving goalkeeper Trung Kien with no chance. The hosts doubled their advantage in the 31st minute when captain Seksan surged through the defense and finished clinically with a left-footed strike.
The two-goal lead reflected Thailand’s first-half dominance, as Vietnam’s attacks were repeatedly neutralized by a compact home defense.
Coach Kim Sang-sik responded decisively at the break, making tactical substitutions and urging his side to play more directly through the middle. The changes paid immediate dividends. Three minutes into the second half, Dinh Bac was fouled in the penalty area after latching onto a through ball. He converted the resulting spot kick himself, pulling Vietnam back to 2-1.
The goal transformed the contest. Vietnam surged forward with renewed confidence, forcing Thailand onto the back foot. In the 61st minute, pressure from a Vietnamese corner led to defender Choolthong turning the ball into his own net, bringing the scores level at 2-2.
Vietnam increasingly controlled the match, creating a series of chances. Goalkeeper Sorawat kept Thailand alive with several crucial saves, while Hieu Minh struck the post with a close-range header in the 72nd minute. In stoppage time, Sorawat again denied Thanh Nhan with a sharp reflex save, pushing the final into extra time.
The decisive moment arrived in the 96th minute. Van Thuan’s close-range effort was spilled by Sorawat, and Thanh Nhan reacted quickest to slot home the rebound, giving Vietnam a 3-2 lead.
Thailand threw numbers forward in a desperate search for an equalizer, but Vietnam’s defense held firm to see out the match and secure a historic victory.
The comeback triumph crowned U22 Vietnam champions of men’s football at the 33rd SEA Games, completing a remarkable turnaround against the tournament hosts and underlining the resilience of Kim Sang-sik’s young side.