On the evening of December 29, Vietnam claimed a commanding victory over Singapore at Viet Tri Stadium in the second leg of the AFF Cup 2024 semi-finals. Entering the match with a 2-0 advantage from the first leg, Coach Kim Sang Sik’s team demonstrated poise and determination to secure their place in the final.
The first half saw both teams create opportunities but struggle to convert them into goals. In the 10th minute, Shawal Anuar found the back of the net for Singapore, only to have his goal disallowed for offside. Similarly, in the 20th minute, Chau Ngoc Quang headed the ball into Singapore’s goal, but the referee ruled it out due to a foul on a defender.
Vietnam finally broke the deadlock just before halftime, thanks to Nguyen Xuan Son. After Lionel Tan fouled him inside the penalty box, the referee awarded a spot kick. Xuan Son calmly slotted the ball past Singapore’s goalkeeper in the 45th minute, giving Vietnam a crucial lead heading into the second half.
The intensity carried over into the second half, with both teams pushing forward. In the 62nd minute, Hoang Duc made a brilliant run down the left flank, cutting into the penalty area before delivering a perfect assist for Xuan Son to score his second goal of the match, extending Vietnam’s lead to 2-0.
Singapore responded in the 74th minute, with Nakamura firing a precise long-range strike from the edge of the box to beat goalkeeper Nguyen Dinh Trieu. This marked the first goal Vietnam had conceded at home during the tournament.
Vietnam sealed the victory in added time. After Nguyen Van Vi was fouled in the penalty area, Tien Linh confidently converted the resulting penalty kick in the 93rd minute, making the scoreline 3-1.
With a 5-1 aggregate win over two legs, Vietnam became the first team to secure a spot in the AFF Cup 2024 final. The team now awaits the winner of the other semi-final between Thailand and the Philippines. Coach Kim Sang Sik and his players will look to carry their momentum into the final as they aim to reclaim the regional crown.
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