Coach Kim stated that what pleased him most was the players' attitude and resilience. "I am very happy to win a SEA Games gold medal for the first time. This is all thanks to the players' efforts and their never-say-die spirit, even though we were trailing 2-0", he said. "Thank you to the players for achieving this feat".

Vietnamese players celebrate with coach Kim Sang-sik after their 3-2 victory over Thailand in the SEA Games final at Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand, on the evening of 18/12. Photo: Duc Dong

At Rajamangala Stadium on the evening of 18/12, Vietnam found themselves two goals down after just over 30 minutes. However, Kim's squad equalized in the second half and scored the decisive goal in extra time to secure the SEA Games 33 gold medal.

According to the Korean coach, during halftime, the coaching staff did not reprimand the players. Instead, they focused on maintaining composure and belief. "I spoke gently with the players, telling them we still had a chance and must not give up. We had to go all the way and not let this match end in regret", he shared.

The 49-year-old coach also referenced the second leg of the ASEAN Cup 2024 final, also held at Rajamangala Stadium on 5/1. In that match, Vietnam defeated Thailand 3-2 (aggregate score 5-3) to become champions. He recalled telling the players during the break: "Your older brothers also won here. And you can do it too".

Beyond spirit, coach Kim attributed Vietnam's capability to their rigorous training process. The players consistently adhered to the training regimen, even during high-intensity sessions. "During training sessions, despite the heavy intensity, the players had no complaints and always met the coaching staff's requirements. This commitment led to today's result", he added.

Key match developments.

In the men's football final on the evening of 18/12, hosts Thailand took a 2-0 lead with goals from Yotsakorn Burapha in the 20th minute and Seksan Ratree in the 31st minute. Coach Kim admitted the players felt some pressure in the first half. He noted that the fervent atmosphere at Rajamangala Stadium caused some players to not start well, appearing "heavy-footed and losing some confidence". "But the more they played, the more confident and better they became. I am truly proud of that", he emphasized.

Assessing individual performances, coach Kim praised captain Nguyen Dinh Bac for reducing the deficit with a penalty kick in the 49th minute. He observed that Dinh Bac tried extremely hard, but having to both attack and defend depleted his stamina, preventing him from performing at 100%. "Nevertheless, throughout the tournament, Dinh Bac made significant contributions to the team's overall success", he said.

Coach Kim extended his gratitude to the fans. He stated that the support from spectators in the stadium and back home was a huge motivation for the entire team. This encouragement gave the players greater belief to not give up.

Vietnam equalized 2-2 in the 60th minute from an own goal by defender Waris Choolthong. In extra time, substitute forward Nguyen Thanh Nhan slammed home a close-range rebound, scoring the winning goal that sealed a 3-2 victory for Kim's squad.

The victory against Thailand allowed coach Kim Sang-sik to make history as the first coach to win the ASEAN Cup, AFF U23 Championship, and SEA Games. However, he believes this title is just a beginning. According to him, the players will gain more confidence to pursue bigger goals. "The experiences from this tournament will help the players gain more experience and character", he said. "We will strive to perform even better at the AFC U23 Asian Cup finals in 1/2026".

Hieu Luong