A rollercoaster of emotions
Relive Việt Nam's stunning comeback to win their third SEA Games gold medal, minute-by-minute with this special longform article
18:00
Fans gather outside Rajamangala National Stadium in Thailand, with drums and makeshift costumes ready to cheer on the team.
Can't have a party without the giant Việt Nam banner!
Fans from the ancient town of Quảng Trị came to Rajamangala to cheer on the team.
18:15
Meanwhile inside the stadium, the Vietnamese players arrived and were ready for the showdown.
19:00
Back home in Hồ Chí Minh City's Lê Lợi Street, hundreds gathered at a watch party in front of a giant screen.
19:25
Teams took to the field for the national anthems.
VNA/VNS Photo Minh Quyết
VNA/VNS Photo Minh Quyết
Photo from FA Thailand
Photo from FA Thailand
19:30 - 1'
Kick-off at the Rajamangala National Stadium.
19:50 - 20'
Việt Nam 0-1 Thailand (Yotsakorn)
A foul by Nguyễn Thái Quốc Cường gave away a free-kick from around 25 metres to Trần Trung Kiên's goal.
Thailand's No.9 and tournament top scorer Yotsakorn Burapha fired a stunning curled shot into the top corner of Trần Trung Kiên's net, opening the scores for the hosts.
Yotsakorn Burapha celebrating his opener. Photo courtesy of FA Thailand
Yotsakorn Burapha celebrating his opener. Photo courtesy of FA Thailand
Thai players celebrating with Yotsakorn. Photo courtesy of FA Thailand
Thai players celebrating with Yotsakorn. Photo courtesy of FA Thailand
And while Thai fans erupted in cheers,...
Sadness and disbelief fell upon the Vietnamese fans at Lê Lợi Street.
20:00 - 30'
Việt Nam 0-2 Thailand (Seksan)
Việt Nam, needing a goal to level the score, pushed higher but left gaps in defence behind.
From his own half, Thailand's Kakana Chamyok found Seksan Ratree with a long pass, and the Thai captain dribbled to the edge of the box, before firing a cracking shot towards the bottom left corner of Trung Kiên's net.
The Vietnamese keeper, despite getting his fingertips to it, failed to keep the shot out. Advantage: Thailand.
Thai captain Seksan Ratree celebrating his goal that doubled the scoreline. Photo courtesy of FA Thailand
Thai captain Seksan Ratree celebrating his goal that doubled the scoreline. Photo courtesy of FA Thailand
Fans in the watch party at Lê Lợi Street watched on with worries in their eyes. Photo vietnamnet.vn
Fans in the watch party at Lê Lợi Street watched on with worries in their eyes. Photo vietnamnet.vn
Fans at the Lê Lợi Street watch party sank further in sadness.
It is as if the domination of Thailand that haunted the Golden Star Warriors during the 90s and early 2000s has returned.
Some even admitted to having turned off the television after Seksan's goal.
A lonely street vendor in Hà Nội. Photo from social media
A lonely street vendor in Hà Nội. Photo from social media
A street vendor selling flags and vuvuzelas, items closely associated with post-game celebration parades, or Đi bão, watches the game attentively, but alone.
It seems that it's not a good day to do business... or is it?
20:33 - 46'
Second half starts
Việt Nam's manager, Kim Sang-sik, brought on one substitute in the first half, midfielder Nguyễn Thái Sơn.
After the break, he brought two more subs on in Nguyễn Thanh Nhàn and Lê Văn Thuận.
The trio of Sơn, Nhàn and Thuận were regarded as super subs that changed the game against the Philippines and brought home a late 2-0 victory in the semifinals.
Later, according to defender Phạm Lý Đức, the team went to the dressing room and said to each other: 'Look at the stands and how the fans are cheering us on', as motivation for the second half.
Coach Kim Sang-sik always ready on the touchline. Photo thanhnien.vn
Coach Kim Sang-sik always ready on the touchline. Photo thanhnien.vn
20:36 - 48'
Penalty for Việt Nam
The changes worked wonders for Việt Nam. A great through ball from Thái Sơn found Đình Bắc unmarked inside Thailand's penalty area. Việt Nam's captain beat Sorawat Phosaman, but was brought down by the Thai goalie in a last-ditch effort.
Referee Mooud Bonyarifard did not hesitate, and pointed directly to the spot.
20:37 - 49'
Việt Nam 1-2 Thailand (Nguyễn Đình Bắc)
From the spot, Việt Nam's No.7 took the penalty confidently.
Zero chance for Sorawat to keep it out.
The skipper then hurriedly took the ball to the centre circle and rallied his teammates to push on harder.
Nguyễn Đình Bắc scoring the penalty that gave a lifeline for Việt Nam. Photo saostar.vn
Nguyễn Đình Bắc scoring the penalty that gave a lifeline for Việt Nam. Photo saostar.vn
Fans in the watch party at Lê Lợi street celebrating Đình Bắc's goal. VNA/VNS Photo Trung Tuyến
Fans in the watch party at Lê Lợi street celebrating Đình Bắc's goal. VNA/VNS Photo Trung Tuyến
Bắc's goal seemed to have lit up streets across Việt Nam. Just about half an hour earlier, the streets were eerily quiet, à la a public library.
Now, despite the task was still at hand, these fans now have hope in their hearts. They knew that their team would not go quietly into the night, and would not go down without a fight.
VNA/VNS Photo Trung Tuyến
VNA/VNS Photo Trung Tuyến
VNA/VNS Photo Trung Tuyến
VNA/VNS Photo Trung Tuyến
Photo vietnamnet.vn
Photo vietnamnet.vn
20:48 - 60'
Việt Nam 2-2 Thailand (Waris Choolthong own goal)
The men in red quickly regained their grasp on the game, as well as their confidence.
A shot from Lê Văn Thuận was cleared out for a corner, in which he crossed for the far post.
Waris Choolthong, after an aerial duel with Phạm Lý Đức, clumsily knocked the ball into the back of his net, echoing his senior teammate Pansa Hemviboon's mistake in the ASEAN Championship final in January. The game is now back to square one.
Phạm Lý Đức celebrating the equaliser. VNA/VNS Photo Minh Quyết
Phạm Lý Đức celebrating the equaliser. VNA/VNS Photo Minh Quyết
21:33 - 96' (ET1)
Việt Nam 3-2 Thailand (Nguyễn Thanh Nhàn)
Despite a shellshocked Thailand seemingly gave away the game, and Kim Sang-sik's men trying their best to find a third during regulation, the game had to be decided in extra time.
The second half's script repeated for Thailand, as just six minutes into the first period, Việt Nam went in front with a great team play by the three substitutes Thái Sơn, Văn Thuận and Thanh Nhàn. Sorawat's talent can only help him save Thuận's close-range shot, but not Nhàn's tap-in.
Nguyễn Thanh Nhàn celebrating the winning goal. VNA/VNS Photo Minh Quyết
Nguyễn Thanh Nhàn celebrating the winning goal. VNA/VNS Photo Minh Quyết
22:05 - FULL TIME
The gold medal comes home!
Thailand sought to do what they could to bring the match to penalties in the remaining extra time, but the closest they could get to Trung Kiên's goal was a shot by 19-year-old Thanakrit Chotmuangpak, which went just millimetres wide.
The Iranian referee blew the final whistle just moments after Thanakrit's shot, confirming Việt Nam's return to the top of the podium at the SEA Games, after falling short of the gold in 2023.
The victory ended Việt Nam's footballing year, as well as Kim Sang-sik's first year as Việt Nam head coach, with three regional trophies: the ASEAN Championship, the ASEAN U23 Championship and the SEA Games gold medal. VNS
Việt Nam Under-22s jubilant after the final whistle. VNA/VNS Photo Minh Quyết
Việt Nam Under-22s jubilant after the final whistle. VNA/VNS Photo Minh Quyết
By the way, remember the street vendor guy?
Here he is at full-time.
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