Drama Eight Goals In The 2024 AFF Cup Final

JAKARTA - The 2024 AFF Cup final match presents an extraordinary drama when Vietnam beat Thailand.

In the first leg which took place at Viet Tri Stadium, January 2, 2025, the Golden Stars took a temporary aggregate with a score of 2-1.

Drama kemudian dilahir pada leg kedua di Stadion Rajamangala pada Minggu, 5 Januari 2025, malam WIB.

The party was fierce. Vietnam won epicly, a 3-2 score to lead the 5-3 aggregate, plus a red card for one Thai player.

Vietnam made Thailand sink even more when the game had only been running for eight minutes. Pham Tuan Hai scored to open the scoring.

The visitors took the lead when the long ball from behind could not be anticipated by Jonathan Khemdee. Mr. Hai reacted as quickly as possible to shoot his shot past Patiwat Kammai.

The hosts responded appropriately and equalized the aggregate after turning things around 2-1 through goals from Ben Davis (28') and Supachok Sarachat (64').

A reply from Thailand arrived in the 28th minute when their high pressure cost Doan Ngoc Tan the ball on the edge of his own area, allowing Davis to calmly release a curling shot from 25 yards that Nguyen Dinh Trieu failed to reach.

Just five minutes later, the disaster appeared to have hit Vietnam. Nguyen star player Xuan Son alias Rafaelson was seriously injured.

Initially, he experienced a cruciatum anterior ligament tear which made him have to be carried off the field.

Rafaelson, who has just made his international debut with Vietnam and has scored seven goals from just four games before Sunday, is undeniable to be their most influential player.

He looks ready to win the tournament alone. He finally claimed the Most Securities Player award and Most Goalscorers, which his teammates received in his name while lifting his shirt after he was taken to hospital.

With Rafaelson's disappearance as the main threat, Thailand's spirit is increasing. The hosts are starting to actually lock up Vietnam's defenses.

In the second half, Thailand put Vietnam under pressure after their second goal through Supachok Sarachat made the score 2-1 and the aggregate draw. The advantage comes amid a real controversy.

Initially there was a big confusion, but replays finally showed that, after Dinh Trieu threw the ball off the pitch, perhaps so that injured players could get treatment, Thailand chose not to return the ball from the throw-in.

In contrast, Supachok will go to goal and release a hard 35-yard shot which overwhelmed the Vietnamese goalkeeper.

The Vietnamese camp became angry. In fact, it seems that there is a VAR examination to assess the validity of the kick.

After the referee met the two coaches to explain his interpretation of the incident, referee Ko Hyung-Jin signaled that the goal was approved.

However, the pressure from Thailand after that weakened. In fact, the hosts had to play with 10 people in the 74th minute when Weerathep Pomphan received his second yellow card for violating Vu Van Thanh.

Vietnam felt fair after Thailand's controversial second goal. When the match seemed to be continuing into the extra round after a 3-3 draw aggregate, the drama took place.

Eight minutes after the red card, Vietnam reclaimed its aggregate advantage thanks to an own goal from Pansa Hemviboon.

Thailand did not give up. They are not only defending champions, but also champions of the seven tournaments.

There is no word holding back in a state of lagging behind aggregate. Suphanan Burenet is actively threatening.

His shot almost made things go back to a draw, but the ball hit the crossbar in the last minute of normal time. Pansa, who tried to make up for his mistake, also almost scored.

Another high pass to the Vietnam area caused all kinds of chaos, but Ratree's Sex kick was blocked by the visitors' defenders.

An additional 15 minutes have been marked. The match entered the 110th minute.

In one last attempt to keep the position even, Thailand sent Patiwat into the corner.

Vietnam managed to block the ball. Then they have the courage to get out of the situation.

As a result, after passing the obstacles, Nguyen Hai Long continued by releasing a low shot from the near midfield line towards an unguarded Thai goal. Goal.

Hai Long put Vietnam 3-2 ahead as well as aggregate changed to 5-3. The score lasted until the game was over.

These results made Vietnam take revenge on their arch-foe after the 2022 AFF Cup final.

Thailand has failed to win the third consecutive title which has never happened before.

Although Vietnam was arguably a favorite before the tournament, at least on paper, they still had to overcome many difficulties to feel that success.

The victory reminded how Thailand suffered defeat at the Rajamangala Stadium, the only home defeat in the tournament, in the 2008 edition.

At that time, the White Elephant also lost to Vietnam, which in the end won the AFF Cup for the first time after playing the 1-1 draw in the second leg at the Staion My Dinh, aggregate 3-2.

For 16 years later, they have now done it three times.