Dream final match between Vietnam and Thailand: Desire to win

Thailand won spectacularly in the semi-finals

The Philippine team marched to Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok (Thailand) with the goal of preserving, or taking advantage of, the 2-1 win in the first leg at home. In fact, the Philippine players tried very hard to make things difficult for the home team, with a strong approach like the first leg. However, frankly speaking during the first half, the team nicknamed “War Elephants” was better on the familiar natural grass surface at Rajamangala. In addition to a shot hitting the crossbar, coach Masatada Ishii’s students still handled the most difficult part of the first half, the goal in the 37th minute. It was a situation that could create controversy, when VAR did not even into play when the television signal shows that the ball is teetering between the boundary in play or out of the field. The main referee, after talking with the VAR team, did not have to check the screen and recognized the 1-0 opening goal scored for Peeradon Chamratsamee in the 37th minute.

When the Philippine team left the Rizal Memorial artificial turf, they did not play well. Thai players are under a lot of pressure but still create effective situations on the ball. This is clearly shown through the outstanding amount of ball control and the proactive way of controlling the ball against an away team that is not too enthusiastic about attacking. The situation where the Thais stole the ball in the Philippines’ half, allowing Patrik Gustavsson to score with a shot into the far corner, increasing the score to 2-0 in the 54th minute, showed the superiority of the home team. However, Kristensen’s goal in the 84th minute brought the Philippines back to life, sending the match into extra time.

LOh, I’m hereVIET TRI

Actually, Thailand could have ended the match after 90 minutes, but coach Masatada Ishii’s subjective decisions helped the Philippines flare up at the end of the second half. After leading 2-0, he was too confident to withdraw a series of players. The main players leaving the field are Peeradon Chamratsamee, Patrik Gustavsson and midfielder Aukkee.

The Japanese military leader quickly thought about the victory at hand and wanted to recover his strength for the away trip in the final two matches with Vietnam, so he almost paid the price. The Philippines’ 84th minute goal left Thailand unsteady, especially when midfielder Pomphan left the field in pain in extra time. Tens of thousands of spectators in Rajamangala held their breath and thought of the worst scenario, until Suphanat Mueanta headed the ball into the net for the Philippines in the 116th minute, helping Thailand seal a 4-3 final victory.

The two final legs of the return match between Vietnam and Thailand will be the pinnacle competition of Southeast Asian football, because the two teams possess the strongest attack at AFF Cup 2024. The first leg of the final will take place on the field. Viet Tri on January 2, 2025, and the return leg at Rajamangala Stadium on January 5, 2025.