Thailand’s head coach Masatada Ishii acknowledged Vietnam’s superiority after their 3-2 victory in the second leg of the AFF Cup 2024 final, which secured a 5-3 aggregate win for the champions. Speaking at the post-match press conference at Rajamangala Stadium, Ishii admitted his team made avoidable mistakes, tipping the scales in Vietnam’s favor.
“Congratulations to Vietnam. They played better today and deserved to win the championship,” Ishii began. “Thailand made some defensive errors that we should not have, and that turned the game against us.”
Thailand, buoyed by a home crowd of over 40,000, quickly found themselves on the back foot when Tuan Hai capitalized on a defensive lapse to lob goalkeeper Patiwat Khammai in the 8th minute. The hosts equalized in the 28th minute through a stunning long-range strike by Ben Davis, who capitalized on a mistake by Doan Ngoc Tan. However, the psychological advantage was short-lived, as Vietnam’s star striker Nguyen Xuan Son left the pitch with a serious injury in the 32nd minute.
In the second half, Thailand momentarily gained the lead in controversial fashion. Supachok Sarachat scored from a long-range shot after Vietnam had deliberately put the ball out of play for an injured player. Despite the lack of fair play, Ishii declined to comment on the ethics of the goal, stating only that it was a “beautiful strike.”
The match turned against Thailand when Weerathep Pomphan received a second yellow card in the 74th minute, leaving the hosts to play with 10 men. Vietnam quickly equalized when Thai center-back Pansa Hemviboon deflected a Tuan Hai shot into his own net in the 82nd minute. The game was sealed in dramatic fashion during injury time, as Hai Long scored from midfield into an empty net after Patiwat ventured forward for a corner kick.
Although disappointed, Ishii emphasized the need for perspective, framing the defeat as part of Thailand’s generational transition. “Yes, we didn’t achieve our goal, but this is a transitional phase for Thai football as we look ahead to future tournaments,” he said. “The players gave their best, but the defense made too many costly mistakes, especially in moments that should have been easy to manage.”
Looking ahead, Ishii shifted focus to the upcoming third round of Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers, where Thailand will face Turkmenistan, Taiwan, and Sri Lanka in Group D. “We have three months to prepare for the qualifiers. I cannot confirm how many players from the AFF Cup squad will remain for the next competition. I will evaluate performances in domestic leagues to select the best possible lineup,” he added.
Thailand will now work to rebuild and regain their standing, with Ishii optimistic about the team’s prospects in the long term. Meanwhile, Vietnam celebrates a historic victory, affirming their place as Southeast Asia’s top footballing nation.
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