Playing on an artificial turf with a fast, bouncing ball proved to be a significant challenge for Vietnam. In the first half, the team managed only 31% possession and struggled to apply consistent pressure in the opposition’s half. Most of Vietnam’s attacking efforts relied on individual plays by Xuan Son, while Quang Hai and Hoang Duc were subdued under Singapore’s tight defensive coverage.
This marked the fifth consecutive match in the tournament where Vietnam failed to score in the first half. As the second half began, Vietnam’s performance faltered further, requiring goalkeeper Dinh Trieu to make several exceptional saves, including a fingertip deflection to keep the game level.
Coach Kim Sang Sik made tactical adjustments, introducing Tien Linh and Doan Ngoc Tan midway through the second half, which brought improvement. Vietnam created a few clear chances, but luck was not on their side. Vi Hao rushed his shot from an unfavorable position instead of passing to Xuan Son, sending it off-target. Tien Linh attempted an ambitious shot from midfield upon spotting Singapore’s goalkeeper off his line, only to see the ball narrowly miss the crossbar. Xuan Son had a stunning long-range strike ruled out by VAR, which deemed that the ball had deflected off his hand before the shot.
The breakthrough finally came in the ninth of ten added minutes. The referee penalized a Singaporean defender for a handball following a miscommunication with his goalkeeper while dealing with Xuan Son. From the penalty spot, Tien Linh calmly converted, giving Vietnam a 1-0 lead.
Vietnam capitalized on the remaining time to add a second goal. Xuan Son scored from close range following a precise corner kick by Hoang Duc, sealing a 2-0 victory.
This result means that the opportunity to reach the final is wide open for Coach Kim and his team. In the second leg on Sunday, December 29, Vietnam will play at home at Viet Tri Stadium, with its familiar natural grass surface.
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