England's coach Anthony Hudson of Thailand holds a press conference after the match against Vietnam in the second leg of the ASEAN Cup 2026 final at My Dinh Stadium, Hanoi on 26/8. *Photo: Duc Dong*

Vietnam successfully defended their ASEAN Cup 2026 title, securing a 4-2 aggregate victory over Thailand after a dramatic 2-2 draw in the second leg of the final at My Dinh Stadium on the evening of 26/8. Following a 0-2 loss in the first leg, Thailand entered the return match with determination, leading to a thrilling contest.

Thailand opened the scoring in the 12th minute when Yotsakorn Burapha received a cross from the right wing and fired a powerful shot into the far corner, beating goalkeeper Le Giang Patrik.

The match remained tightly contested until the start of the second half. In the 50th minute, Kakana Khamyok earned a penalty for Thailand after being fouled by Xuan Manh in the box. However, Kakana shot over the bar from the penalty spot, missing a crucial chance to give the visitors a 2-0 lead and equalize the aggregate score. Thailand immediately paid the price. Just two minutes later, in the 52nd minute, from a cross by Tuan Tai, Hoang Hen's connecting shot hit the post. The ball rebounded off goalkeeper Chatchai's foot and into the net, leveling the score at 1-1 for Vietnam.

Vietnam then created several opportunities but squandered them, including a shot by Hai Long that struck the woodwork. These missed chances prevented the home side from sealing the match earlier. The drama intensified in the 85th minute when substitute Wanchai scored from close range, re-establishing Thailand's lead and narrowing the aggregate score to 2-3. Just as it seemed Vietnam would face an anxious final few minutes, an incredible turn of events unfolded. In injury time, Wanchai inadvertently cleared the ball forcefully into his own net, gifting Vietnam an equalizer at 2-2 and securing a 4-2 aggregate victory, allowing them to defend their title.

Duc Dong - Hieu Luong