Vietnam’s great victory against Thailand: Welcome the new king of Southeast Asia!

There was a small rain in the Tuesday match in AFC U23 Championship 2020 Qualifiers, but in Hanoi, there was also a bigger rain and its echo last for a very long time, the rain of goals…

U23 Vietnam played with bravery. Photo: Ngoc Bao

Before the match, no one thought that U23 Vietnam could earn 4 goals and concede no goals, even daydreamers. Bui Tien Dung was so relaxed that he was rarely seen by viewers on television. And of course it is unbelievable that we just had a less impressive performance in Indonesia match before.

About Alexandre Gama and his players, they still played their style with agreat destructive power when having 12 goals in the first two matches. The contrast in performance was the reason why Vietnamese football fans concerned about the final matches.

Who knows the most unexpected came to head coach Park Hang Seo and Vietnam team at a time when no one expected, the red shirt team has convincingly beaten Thailand to earn ticket to AFC U23 Championship 2020 with the top spot of group K. Vietnam won over Thailand, but also got 3 more points in the most glorious and extremely proud way against Thai.

Vietnamese players play like warriors against Thai people. Photo: Ngoc Bao

Taking off all the lack of creativity and lumbering in the confrontation with Indonesia, skipper Quang Hai and his teammates had a top-notch performance facing the regional heavyweight opponent, which could also be a milestone in U23 Vietnam players’ lives and careers who played on Tuesday match. From the way Van Hau bravely broke into the middle and passed the ball to Duc Chinh leading to the first goal, no one really thought U23 Vietnam’s opponent was led by coach Gama.

Head coach Park Hang-seo showed complete dominance in the implementation of the game and players. Watching the red team playing football, Vietnamese fans could see clearly Vietnam was the top team, the "nightmare" of Thailand, not the opposite.

After the Tuesday game, it could be said that history has turned to a new page as this was the biggest victory of Vietnamese football against Thai people. It has been more than 20 years since the 3-0 victory at Tiger Cup 1998 when Vietnamese had such a big victory over the "Changseuk". Even more, the happiness busted out more tremendously than that in the moment Vietnam won the AFF Cup 2018.

U23 Vietnam officially became the new king of Southeast Asia. Photo: Ka Anh

Having won that tournament didn’t mean that Vietnam had become the football king in Southeast Asia since Park Hang Seo’s side didn’t  play against and defeat Thailand, but from this match, all doubts have been driven away. Those who were skeptical, criticized U23 Vietnam was not strong and skillful enough to overcome the "Changsuek" must have been kept in silence and admired this impressive achievement of Vietnam football.

The Vietnam’s fixed perception that Thailand was the biggest concern in the region must have disappeared after the Tuesday match. 4-0 win was clearly Mr Park’s and Vietnam players’ convincing answer to confirm their number one position in Southeast Asia. The table now turned, the history also changed. Southeast Asian football is welcoming a new king, a name that is strong enough to be the leader and shoulder the brother’s role in the region, Vietnam!

Dutch player Johan Cruyff once said, "Victory is important but to win in a unique and convincing way that makes others imitate, is the best gift."

And this great victory against U23 Thailand really brought pride and made all have to express their admiration to U23 Vietnam. The day Vietnam is the best in Southeast Asia has come, the red army needs to prove its strength in the continental arena to raise the level of Vietnamese football to international friends