Chonburi, 24 July 2026 – Vietnam made a dream start to their ASEAN Cup 2026 campaign with a commanding 7-0 victory over Timor-Leste on the evening of July 24 in Chonburi, Thailand, delivering an emphatic statement as they began their quest to defend the Southeast Asian title.
Despite a rain-soaked pitch that made ball control difficult during the opening stages, Kim Sang-sik’s men wasted little time asserting their dominance. Applying relentless high pressure and moving the ball quickly through midfield, Vietnam took complete control of the contest from the opening whistle.
The breakthrough arrived in just the seventh minute. After Nguyen Dinh Bac’s effort was spilled by the Timor-Leste goalkeeper, Do Hoang Hen reacted quickest to fire a composed finish into the far corner, giving Vietnam an early 1-0 lead.
Falling behind forced Timor-Leste to abandon their defensive approach and push further up the field, leaving space for Vietnam to exploit through rapid transitions and counterattacks.
Vietnam dominated possession throughout the first half, with Nguyen Hoang Duc and Nguyen Quang Hai dictating the tempo in midfield, while the attacking trio of Hoang Hen, Dinh Bac and Nguyen Xuan Son constantly stretched the opposition defense with their movement and pace.
After several missed opportunities, Vietnam doubled their advantage in the 31st minute. Hoang Duc threaded a perfectly weighted pass into the penalty area, allowing Dinh Bac to control the ball, evade his marker with a clever turn, and finish confidently across goal to make it 2-0.
The second goal further tilted the match in Vietnam’s favor. Xuan Son became increasingly influential, linking play effectively with his hold-up ability while creating opportunities for teammates. The striker nearly found the scoresheet himself with a powerful header before releasing Hoang Hen through on goal with an excellent long pass.
Timor-Leste’s resistance completely collapsed before halftime. In the 41st minute, Hoang Hen capitalized on a defensive mistake, calmly dribbled past the goalkeeper and slotted home his second goal of the night to extend the lead to 3-0.
Just one minute later, Quang Hai produced a perfectly timed through ball for Dinh Bac, who raced clear before finishing clinically to score Vietnam’s fourth goal.
Vietnam added a fifth before the interval following another attack down the left flank. Nguyen Van Vi delivered a dangerous cross into the penalty area, and after a failed clearance by a Timor-Leste defender, the ball deflected off Xuan Son before finding the back of the net near the right post. The goal was briefly reviewed by VAR before being awarded.
Vietnam’s attacking players continued pressing aggressively, leaving Timor-Leste unable to build attacks from the back. At the other end, goalkeeper Patrik Le Giang enjoyed a relatively quiet first half, facing virtually no serious threats.
Leading 5-0 at halftime, Vietnam maintained their dominance after the break. Although Kim Sang-sik resisted making immediate substitutions, his side continued to control possession, launching wave after wave of attacks down both flanks.
Hoang Duc tested the goalkeeper early in the second half with a powerful long-range strike, while Timor-Leste attempted to push forward in search of a consolation goal. The hosts created a handful of opportunities, with Luis Figo heading over the crossbar before another effort struck the post after taking a deflection off a Vietnamese defender. Those chances, however, proved to be little more than isolated moments.
Vietnam’s superior quality remained evident throughout the second half. The combination play between Hoang Duc, Quang Hai, Xuan Son and Dinh Bac repeatedly exposed Timor-Leste’s defense, while Doan Van Hau frequently joined the attack, demonstrating confidence on his return to action.
Dinh Bac completed a memorable performance in the 66th minute by scoring his third goal of the match, becoming the first player to register a hat-trick for Vietnam at the ASEAN Cup 2026. The 2004-born forward showcased his outstanding movement and clinical finishing, underlining how quickly he has adapted to Kim Sang-sik’s tactical system.
With the result beyond doubt, Kim began rotating his squad to preserve key players and give valuable minutes to others. Bui Viet Anh, Nguyen Tuan Tai, Nguyen Van Do, and Nguyen Hai Long were all introduced as Vietnam switched to a four-man defense while continuing to dominate proceedings.
As Timor-Leste’s energy levels faded, Vietnam continued creating chances with ease. In the 79th minute, Quang Hai capped an outstanding display by finishing calmly inside the penalty area to make it 7-0. After orchestrating countless attacking moves throughout the match, the midfielder crowned his performance with a goal on his first competitive appearance as Vietnam’s new captain.
Even with such a commanding lead, Vietnam maintained their intensity until the final whistle. Timor-Leste were unable to find a way through a disciplined Vietnamese side that combined defensive solidity with relentless attacking football.
The comprehensive 7-0 victory gives Vietnam the perfect start to their ASEAN Cup 2026 title defense, providing both an important goal difference advantage and a major confidence boost ahead of tougher challenges later in the tournament.
Vietnam will next face Singapore on July 31 at My Dinh National Stadium, where Kim Sang-sik’s side will look to build on an impressive opening-night performance and move one step closer to the knockout stage.
VSN/RPT
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