Rafaelson Scores Brace, Becomes Thailand's Bad Dream In Leg 1 Of The 2024 AFF Cup Final

Rafaelson scored a brace in Vietnam's victory over Thailand in the 2024 AFF Cup final leg 1 (Instagram/@aseanutd).

JAKARTA - After the first half goalless, Nguyen Xuan Son alias Rafaelson headed the ball to score the opener in the 59th minute.

He then added a sensational goal in the 73rd minute, which was a commensurate reply to the brilliant performance of one of the brightest stars of the Golden Star Warriors.

However, Thailand managed to reduce the gap through Chalermsak Aukee in the 82nd minute, as the winner of its mistake against Vietnam's second goal.

The match showed Thailand dominated possession (64 percent), but Vietnam, once again, showed that they could be clinical when needed.

The Golden Star Warriors don't need much possession to get the results they need.

In fact, with possession of only 36 percent, they were still able to release nine shots on target, three times more than Thailand.

Xuan Son stole the ball and fired a shot into the White Elephant's goal in just one minute.

Situasi itu mengingatkan lini belakang Thailand akan tugas yang mereka harus selesai dalam pertandingan ini.

Xuan Son is the top scorer in the tournament and is hungry for more goals.

His breakthrough in the future resulted in the first opportunity that was right inside, forcing a corner kick, but Bui Tien Dung's header widened.

Not long after, Xuan Son fired a hard shot, but the ball headed straight for the goalkeeper.

Vietnam is increasingly confident and has shown from the start that their pressure is effective, but Thailand has not wavered in their persistence to survive.

Vu Van Thanh's half-volley shot was nine minutes later narrowly wide from the post.

After being unfamiliar with Vietnam's goal so far, Thailand was finally able to test the goalkeeper in the 13th minute.

The diagonal ball from Suphanan Bureerat was immediately greeted by Ekanit Panya in the penalty box, but Nguyen Dinh Trieu was able to ward off the shot.

Creating an opportunity to shoot from a second ball is a method used by both teams. However, the first half ended with a score of 0-0.

Thailand took 68 percent of the ball in the first half, but Vietnam fired a total of 10 shots.

Vietnam started the second half very well, controlling the ball more than the first half. Xuan Son proved difficult to control.

Patrik Gustavsson almost scored Thailand's opener in the 56th minute. Then, Nguyen Quang Hai forced the White Elephant goalkeeper to make a brilliant save from a half-volley kick a minute later.

The goal was finally created when the hosts broke the deadlock just before one hour of the match through Xuan Son.

Quang Hai's cross from the right was headed back into the net by Van Thanh to pass to Xuan Son. From close range, he managed to shake Thailand's net with a header.

Thailand immediately responded, Gustavsson almost equalized when he received a pass from Ben Davis. However, his left foot kick still bounced.

That failure frustrated Thailand. In the aftermath, Vietnam managed to score a second goal.

Again through Xuan Son who snatched the ball from Chalermsak Aukee in the middle line before running towards the penalty box and tucking the ball into the bottom corner of the net.

Eight minutes from the end of the match, Thailand narrowed down through Aukee's header from a gastric pass.

He made up for his mistake which led to Xuan Son's second goal. The celebration was not too excessive and more like an apology, but it gave the White Elephant hope.

The 2-1 score for Vietnam's advantage lasted until the first leg of the 2024 AFF Cup final at the Viet Tri Stadium, Thursday, January 2, 2025, ended.

Thailand now has to do what they do against the Philippines, which is to reverse defeat in the first leg if they want to win the third straight AFF Cup title, or fifth from the last six editions.

Vietnam will feel confident ahead of the second leg match on Sunday, January 5, 2024, at the Rajamangala Stadium after appearing convincing in defense and dangerous on the front lines.