Hanoi, 31 July 2026 – The Vietnam national team squandered a host of scoring opportunities as they were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw by Singapore in Group A of the ASEAN Cup 2026 at My Dinh National Stadium on Friday night.
Although head coach Kim Sang-sik extended his unbeaten record against Southeast Asian opponents to 20 matches, the South Korean tactician was left disappointed after seeing his side’s 15-match winning streak come to an end. Vietnam dominated possession and created numerous chances but failed to capitalize, finishing the match without a goal despite attempting 22 shots. In fact, the hosts were fortunate not to suffer defeat thanks to several outstanding saves from goalkeeper Patrik Le Giang.
Singapore produced the clearest chance of the match when Kyoga Nakamura delivered a dangerous cross that found defender Jacob Mahler, whose powerful first-time strike was brilliantly pushed away by Le Giang. Moments later, Shawal Anuar headed the rebound over the bar from close range. According to match statistics, Mahler’s effort carried a 91% probability of resulting in a goal, while Shawal’s follow-up header had a 71% chance of finding the net, giving Singapore an expected goals total of 1.21, slightly higher than Vietnam’s 1.10.
Despite that, Vietnam controlled much of the game, outshooting Singapore 22-12. The match also marked the national team’s long-awaited return to My Dinh Stadium, where fans were greeted by a completely renovated playing surface and upgraded 4K television broadcast. Even after hours of heavy rain, 31,569 spectators packed the stadium—the largest attendance of the tournament so far—and created a vibrant atmosphere throughout the evening.
Kim Sang-sik named the same starting lineup that demolished Timor-Leste 7-0 in the opening match, keeping faith with Nguyen Dinh Bac ahead of naturalized striker Nguyen Tai Loc. Singapore, meanwhile, made three changes to their lineup, with Ilhan Fandi starting on the bench while Shawal Anuar led the attack.
Unlike their opening victory, Vietnam did not completely dominate the early stages. Singapore enjoyed spells of possession before gradually retreating into a compact defensive shape as the hosts established control. Vietnam’s first opportunity fell to Nguyen Xuan Son, whose effort inside the penalty area was blocked by a defender.
Dinh Bac remained heavily involved throughout the first half but struggled to make his chances count. The 22-year-old attempted five shots, more than any other player before halftime, but repeatedly failed to trouble Singapore’s defense. His most notable miss came from an ambitious volley following a cross from Truong Tien Anh, sending the ball well over the crossbar.
Vietnam continued to waste opportunities. Tien Anh forced goalkeeper Izwan Mahbud into an impressive save from long range before Dinh Bac blasted the rebound over the bar. Moments later, Hoang Duc rattled the crossbar with a spectacular left-footed strike from around 25 meters.
Perhaps the best chance of the first half arrived in the 27th minute, when Nguyen Thanh Chung headed narrowly wide from a corner kick. On the touchline, Kim Sang-sik dropped to his knees in disbelief—a reaction that would be repeated several times throughout the evening.
The South Korean coach then made a bold decision just before halftime, replacing Dinh Bac with Nguyen Tai Loc in the 41st minute. As the young forward was slow to leave the pitch, television cameras captured Kim giving his player a visibly frustrated look. Despite his work rate, Dinh Bac ultimately paid the price for his lack of composure in front of goal.
Vietnam finished the first half with 13 shots but no goals, marking the first time they had failed to score before halftime since facing Laos in November 2025.
The pressure continued after the break. Do Hoang Hen squandered an excellent chance after being picked out by Xuan Son, before the naturalized striker himself headed over from a cross delivered by Quang Hai.
Singapore, however, remained dangerous on the counterattack. Early in the second half, Song Ui-yong fired narrowly wide from distance, causing a moment of panic among the home crowd. In the 58th minute, Vietnam appealed for a penalty after Lionel Tan appeared to clip Pham Xuan Manh inside the box, but following a lengthy review, VAR decided not to intervene.
Kim Sang-sik responded with further substitutions, introducing Hai Long, Tuan Tai, Viet Cuong, and Thanh Long in search of a breakthrough. Yet the closest Vietnam came to scoring fell to Tai Loc in the 80th minute, when the naturalized forward unleashed a powerful left-footed strike from outside the penalty area that crashed against the crossbar. Once again, Kim sank to his knees in frustration.
Tempers flared after the final whistle as Nguyen Xuan Son confronted the match officials over several contentious decisions before teammates intervened to calm the striker.
While the draw does not significantly damage Vietnam’s hopes of reaching the semifinals, it served as a timely reminder that defending the ASEAN Cup title will be far from straightforward. After dismantling Timor-Leste in their opener, Vietnam found themselves frustrated by a much better-organized Singapore side, exposing their wastefulness in front of goal.
Attention now turns to what could be the decisive match in Group A, as Vietnam travel to face Indonesia at Pakansari Stadium on August 3, with top spot in the group potentially on the line.
VSN/RPT
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