On the evening of 18/12 at Rajamangala Stadium, Vietnam fell behind 0-2 to the host nation after just 31 minutes. Not only was the team's morale affected, but they also struggled to find attacking solutions. In an online interview with Korean media today, coach Kim Sang-sik admitted to feeling despair at one point.

"Honestly, I thought we would concede more goals," coach Kim stated. "At that moment, I just wanted to sink into the ground and disappear."

Coach Kim Sang-sik celebrates with Vietnam after defeating Thailand 3-2 in the SEA Games 33 men's football final at Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on the evening of 18/12. Photo: Duc Dong.

During this critical moment, coach Kim recalled a principle he had established: Regardless of the circumstances, the most crucial thing was for the coaching staff to remain unwavering. "The tactics were prepared, but the players are the ones who execute them on the field," coach Kim added.

The coaching staff then decided to bring in central midfielder Nguyen Thai Son to replace Nguyen Thai Quoc Cuong. Vietnam's midfield became more solid, and they entered halftime without conceding further goals.

Upon entering the locker room, the Korean coach observed the players' disheartened and unconfident demeanor. He hesitated, unsure what to say, before realizing what message he needed to convey. "I calmly said, '0-2? We can definitely turn this around'," coach Kim recounted. "Let's build on the spirit of our seniors who won at this stadium in january."

In the second half, coach Kim introduced Le Van Thuan and Nguyen Thanh Nhan, replacing Khuat Van Khang and Le Viktor. Vietnam quickly scored a penalty to narrow the deficit through Nguyen Dinh Bac, then equalized 2-2 after an opponent's error in the 60th minute. The surging morale allowed Vietnam to dominate their opponents, creating at least three chances to seal the win within 90 minutes, but the post and the Thai goalkeeper's excellent performance thwarted them. However, Nguyen Thanh Nhan's opportunistic follow-up shot in the 96th minute of extra time secured the SEA Games 33 gold medal.

On social media, the words "magic" or "dark magic" were attributed to coach Kim Sang-sik after the dramatic victory. But he contended: "There is no magic here. Ultimately, football is a sport created by people. The outcome reflects the players' thorough preparation and their level of mutual trust. It's not due to the coach alone, but the result of the players' time and effort."

Players toss coach Kim Sang-sik after receiving the SEA Games 33 gold medal. Photo: Duc Dong.

Kim Sang-sik became the first coach to win three consecutive top Southeast Asian football titles in the same year: the ASEAN Cup, the U23 Southeast Asia Championship, and the SEA Games. However, he asserted that he always focused more on the journey of creation rather than the outcome. He constantly grappled with difficult choices, but his assistants and players supported him through those struggles.

Coach Kim also described the ASEAN Cup earlier in the year as a tournament where he had to overcome pressure for results, and the U23 Southeast Asia Championship mid-year as preparation for the future. In contrast, the SEA Games was a stage where just one match or one decision could alter destiny. His principle was to trust and await the players' performance.

The Korean coach also stated that he was honored to leave a significant mark on Vietnamese football history, believing that the upward journey has not yet ended. "Instead of resting on this victory, I have a responsibility to set even higher standards for the players. I hope this championship is not an end, but a beginning. I will continue to challenge myself and the players to make Vietnamese football more competitive in the Asian arena," he said.

The U23 team will reconvene on 23/12, before traveling to Qatar for training, in preparation for the U23 Asian Cup 2026 finals in Saudi Arabia, which commence on 5/1.

Hieu Luong compiled.