Thailand’s head coach Masatada Ishii acknowledged his team’s mistakes as the key factor in their 1-2 defeat to Vietnam in the first leg of the AFF Cup 2024 final. The match, held at Viet Tri Stadium, marked Thailand’s first loss on Vietnamese soil in 27 years, a significant milestone for both teams as they prepare for the decisive second leg.
Speaking to the media after the match, Ishii praised Vietnam’s star forward Nguyen Xuan Son, who scored both goals for the hosts. “Everyone knows that Xuan Son is a very good player,” Ishii said. “In this match, Thailand made mistakes, and the opponent punished us by scoring goals.”
Vietnam opened the scoring in the 59th minute when Xuan Son headed home a cross from Vu Van Thanh. The striker doubled his tally in the 73rd minute, capitalizing on a defensive error by Chalermsak Aukkee to deliver a powerful left-footed strike. Despite pulling one back through Chalermsak’s header in the 83rd minute, Thailand was unable to find an equalizer, leaving them with a deficit to overcome in the second leg.
Ishii reflected on Thailand’s two defeats in the tournament, both with a 1-2 scoreline, including their semifinal first-leg loss to the Philippines. “The two matches were different,” he explained. “Against the Philippines, we conceded in the final minutes. Today, we managed to get a goal back.” The away goal, scored late in the match, could play a crucial role in the return leg at Rajamangala Stadium on January 5.
The loss also brought an end to Thailand’s 27-year unbeaten streak in Vietnam, a record that underscored their dominance in previous encounters. However, Ishii downplayed the significance of the historical statistic, focusing instead on the future. “I don’t focus much on statistics. What matters to me is the progress of the team, not the numbers,” he said.
Thailand has now faced Vietnam twice in the past three months, with each team winning one match. The stakes are higher than ever as the “War Elephants” prepare for the second leg, where they will need to overturn Vietnam’s narrow advantage. Ishii’s squad will look to build on their late goal and exploit Vietnam’s vulnerabilities in Bangkok.
As the AFF Cup 2024 final approaches its conclusion, the battle between Southeast Asia’s two footballing powerhouses remains finely poised. Thailand’s resilience and Vietnam’s momentum will collide in the second leg, setting the stage for an electrifying finale to determine the region’s champion.
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