"Vietnam fully deserved the championship. They were the best team in the tournament," Rhysh Roshan Rai, a former Singapore international and Asian football commentator, told VnExpress after Vietnam successfully defended their ASEAN Cup 2026 title.

Rhysh Rai at My Dinh Stadium before Vietnam's second leg semi-final match against Malaysia at the ASEAN Cup on the evening of 19/8/2026. *Photo: Supplied*

Vietnam secured their fourth Southeast Asian title, following victories in 2008, 2018, and 2024, by defeating Thailand 4-2 on aggregate. The Vietnam national team drew 2-2 with Thailand in the second leg of the final at My Dinh Stadium on 26/8, building on their 2-0 first-leg win at Rajamangala. Goals from Nguyen Hai Long and Nguyen Quang Hai had given coach Kim Sang-sik's team a significant advantage in the first leg.

Despite Vietnam not always performing at their peak in the final, particularly in the second leg, Rai highlighted the role of luck in football. "Thailand gave their all, and it was unfortunate how the match ended. Things could have been very different," he noted. "But Vietnam played an excellent tournament overall. They weren't at their best in the second leg, but luck is necessary no matter how good you are." He added that both teams showed great tactical respect for each other, describing the match as "a battle to see which team could exploit counter-attacks better."

Vietnam defeated Thailand to win the ASEAN Cup 2026 after the second leg of the final at My Dinh Stadium, Hanoi, on the evening of 26/8. *Photo: Ngoc Thanh*

In the first leg, Vietnam managed only 36% possession and fewer shots than Thailand, yet scored two goals in just over 10 minutes through rapid transitions. Rai was particularly impressed by Vietnam's ability to impact the game from the bench. "Vietnam had players who could make a difference coming off the bench, while Thailand couldn't find a way past an excellent Le Giang Patrik," he stated.

Goalkeeper Le Giang Patrik was crucial, making three important saves at Rajamangala, including a notable block against Yotsakorn Burapha in the 36th minute. The goalkeeper, born in 1993, maintained his strong performance as Thailand pressed in the final minutes.

Rai also praised midfielder Nguyen Hoang Duc. "I've always liked Hoang Duc. He's a fantastic midfielder, possessing skill, strength, intelligence, and excellent passing and dribbling abilities. He's a 'general' in Vietnam's midfield," Rai commented. Another player he highly regarded was Le Pham Thanh Long. "It's good that he's getting attention. This player is underrated compared to his actual ability. Thanh Long protects the midfield and passes well from deep," Rai said about the 30-year-old midfielder.

Nguyen Dinh Bac dribbles during Vietnam's 2-2 draw with Thailand in the second leg of the ASEAN Cup 2026 final at My Dinh Stadium, Hanoi, on the evening of 26/8. *Photo: Duc Dong*

Nguyen Dinh Bac received special commendation from the Singaporean expert, earning the "Player of the Tournament" title for ASEAN Cup 2026. Rai deemed this recognition fully deserved. "Yes, I think Dinh Bac deserves it. He brought a lot of attacking sharpness to Vietnam. He scored goals but also created chances and was always very dangerous for opponents," Rai explained. "His speed, skill, and off-the-ball runs truly made him very difficult for defenders to handle."

Dinh Bac led the ASEAN Cup 2026 with eight goal contributions, comprising five goals and three assists. Nguyen Xuan Son followed with five goals but no assists, and no other player surpassed five goal contributions besides Dinh Bac.

Vietnam's efficiency was evident throughout the tournament. The team scored 19 goals and conceded only three, marking the best statistics in the competition. Even when Thailand led 2-1 in the 85th minute of the second leg, needing just one more goal to level the aggregate score, Vietnam held their advantage. In injury time, Wanchai Jarunongkran scored an own goal, securing a 2-2 draw for the hosts and crushing Thailand's hopes of a comeback.

Rai expressed sympathy for Anthony Hudson's team, particularly with the final's conclusion. "The future is very bright for some of Thailand's talents," he concluded.

Xuan Binh