Hanoi, 7 August 2026 – Vietnam booked their place in the ASEAN Cup 2026 semifinals as Group A winners after defeating Cambodia 3-1 in their final group-stage match on Thursday night. Nguyen Dinh Bac starred with a brilliant brace, while an own goal from Cambodia sealed Vietnam’s third victory of the campaign and ensured Kim Sang-sik’s side progressed unbeaten with 10 points.
The victory also ended Vietnam’s long wait for a home win at My Dinh National Stadium. It marked the national team’s first triumph at the iconic venue in more than two years, with their previous victory dating back to June 6, 2024, when they defeated the Philippines 3-2 in the second round of the AFC qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. That memorable match was also Kim Sang-sik’s first in charge of Vietnam, beginning what has become another successful era for the national team following Park Hang-seo’s tenure.
Despite remaining unbeaten at other venues such as Phu Tho, Thai Nguyen, Thien Truong, Binh Duong, and Thong Nhat Stadiums, My Dinh had not been a happy hunting ground for Vietnam in recent years. Before facing Cambodia, the Golden Star Warriors had failed to win in their previous three matches there, suffering defeats to Russia (0-3) and Thailand (1-2) during the September 2024 FIFA international window before being held to a goalless draw by Singapore earlier in this year’s ASEAN Cup.
Vietnam dominated possession from the opening whistle and finally found the breakthrough in the 18th minute. High pressing deep inside Cambodia’s half forced a defensive mistake, allowing Nguyen Dinh Bac to win the ball. The 21-year-old forward showcased excellent composure and close control to dribble through multiple defenders before firing a precise low finish across goalkeeper Koy Salim to give the hosts a deserved lead.
Cambodia responded positively after the break and managed to level the score in the 71st minute. Brazilian-born naturalized forward Iago Bento latched onto a long through ball, outpaced defender Pham Xuan Manh, and calmly slotted past goalkeeper Patrik Le Giang to silence the home crowd.
However, Vietnam quickly regained control when it mattered most. In the 84th minute, Nguyen Xuan Son raced onto a perfectly weighted through pass and forced defender Im Vakhim into an attempted clearance that ended up in Cambodia’s own net, restoring Vietnam’s advantage.
The result was put beyond doubt five minutes later. Midfielder Le Pham Thanh Long delivered a perfectly weighted lofted through ball for Dinh Bac, who timed his run to perfection before delicately chipping the advancing Koy Salim to complete his brace and seal an impressive 3-1 victory.
With five goals in the tournament, Dinh Bac now leads the ASEAN Cup 2026 scoring charts and has emerged as one of the competition’s standout performers. Vietnam’s attention now turns to the semifinals, where Kim Sang-sik’s side will face one of Malaysia, Thailand, or Myanmar as they continue their quest to reclaim the regional crown.
VSN/RPT
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