At My Dinh Stadium, Vietnam faced many difficulties as Singapore defended calmly and escaped pressing well. Besides two shots hitting the crossbar, the hosts lacked fluid coordination and effective wing attacks. The visitors, meanwhile, effectively isolated striker Nguyen Xuan Son.

Coach Gavin Lee admitted Vietnam is strong, deserves to be a championship contender, and serves as a benchmark for Singapore's progress. "This match showed signs of progress. We played well, defended resiliently, and created some chances," Gavin said. "But we are not satisfied because we did not win. Although very proud of this performance, we still wanted three points to secure a spot in the semifinals."

Singapore coach Gavin Lee attended a press conference at the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) headquarters in Hanoi on 30/7, one day before Vietnam faced Singapore in matchday three of group A at the ASEAN Cup 2026. Photo: Hieu Luong

Singapore started well but appeared somewhat panicked in the latter half of the first half, struggling to retain possession. In the second half, the team regained composure and played better than in their two previous wins against Timor Leste 2-0 and Cambodia 2-1. Gavin Lee described this as maturity, noting the team had not reached its peak form from the start of the tournament but had matured with each match.

"Vietnam is very strong, but most of their dangerous situations were self-inflicted," the coach, born in 1990, stated. "However, everything was under control. The players' spirit was strong; we even shifted to attack in the final minutes. That was composure and sticking to the plan."

Gavin Lee did not have a notable playing career, retiring early to pursue studies in coaching and sports management. At age 29, he led Tampines Rovers club until becoming the national team head coach in 2025.

Despite his youth and limited international experience, Gavin displayed composure in his leadership. Two years ago, as an assistant coach for the national team, he gained experience facing Vietnam in the semifinals of the ASEAN Cup 2024. "I try to remain calm. There's no reason to be overly emotional. Staying calm helps me be more perceptive of the game's flow and sets an example for the players on the field," Gavin stated.

This result helps Singapore continue to lead group A with 7 points, ahead of Indonesia by one point and Vietnam by three points, respectively, but having played one more match.

Singapore will have a bye on matchday 4th on 3/8. Four days later, they will face Indonesia in the final group match at home, needing only a draw to secure progression.

Hieu Luong