2022 AFF Cup: Iconic Selebrasi Cristiano Ronaldo Iringi Thailand's Step To Keep The Title Of Champion

Thailand won 1-0 over Vietnam in the second leg of the 2022 AFF Cup final. (Photo: Twitter/@affmecup)

JAKARTA The Thai national team confirmed itself to win the 2022 AFF Cup after defeating Vietnam in the second leg final match at Thammasat Stadium, Monday, January 16 evening WIB.

The only winning goal for the hosts was scored by Theerathon Bunmathan in the middle of the first half. He broke into Dang Van Lam's goal to maximize Adisak Kraison's pass with a hard right-footed shot from outside the penalty box.

Vietnam's goalkeeper read the ball well and jumped to his right side, but was in vain. Theerathon then ran to the sidelines and demonstrated the iconic celebration of superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, 'Siuu'.

THEERATHON WITH THE SIIIIIIIIUUUUUUU#AFFMitsubishiElectricCup2022 | #BeTheGameChanger | #THAvVIE pic.twitter.com/dQUmuONHss

— AFF Mitsubishi Electric Cup (@affmecup) January 16, 2023

An additional one goal is enough to make Thailand defend the title in this competition with a 3-2 aggregate advantage after in the first leg the two teams drew 2-2.

This victory made Thailand defend the title. In the previous edition, in 2020, the War Elephant squad came out as champions after defeating Indonesia in the final. At that time, they won 4-0 in the first leg and drew 2-2 in the next leg.

This is the seventh title the War Elephant team gets in this biennial competition. They confirmed their status as the holder of the most titles, followed by Singapore in second place with four titles.

In addition to the two titles in the two latest editions, they also won this competition in the first edition of 1996, then followed the second and third titles in 2000 and 2002.

Thailand felt the title fast for a long time after that. They entered the final three times, respectively in 2007, 2008, and 2012, but always lost.

They then again lifted two consecutive trophies in the two editions after that. Beating Malaysia in the 2014 final match and silencing Indonesia two years later.

Theerathon and his friends started their journey in the AFF Cup this year as winners of Group A without losing a single game. They are ahead on goal difference over Indonesia who is runners-up.

They then lost to the host Malaysia in the first leg of the semifinals. However, a three-goal comeback without reply while playing at home successfully escorted them to the final.

Lineup

Thailand (3-5-2): Kampol Pathomakkakul; Suphanan Bureerat, Kritsada Kaman, Pansa Hemviboon, Weerrathep Pomphan, Sasalak Haiprakhon; Teerathon Bunmathan, Pyeradon Chamratsamee, Sarach Yooyen; Poramet Arjvirai, Adisak Kraisorn.

Vietnam (3-5-2): Dang Van Lam; Bui Hoang Viet Anh, Nguyen Thanh Binh, Que Ngoc Hai, Doan Van Hau, Vu Van Thanh; Nguyen Hoang Duc, Nguyen Tuan Anh, Do Hung Dung; Phan Van Duc, Nguyen Tien Linh.