KUALA LUMPUR: Thailand captured their seventh ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Cup title after edging Vietnam 1-0 in the return leg final at the Thammasat Stadium in Pathum Thani last night for a 3-2 aggregate win.
The War Elephants, under the guidance of coach Alexandre Polking, are the most successful team in the history of the AFF Cup, having also won it in 1996, 2000, 2002, 2014, 2016 and 2020.
After both teams drew 2-2 in the first leg at the My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi on Friday (Jan 13), skipper Theerathon Bunmathan netted the only goal in tonight's match with a powerful right shot from outside the box in the 24th minute after receiving a pass from Adisak Kraisorn.
The goal only added to the intensity of the match and forced Vietnam's South Korean coach Park Hang Seo to make an early substitution by bringing on Nguyen Quang Hai for Nguyen Tuan Ahn in the 36th minute.
Hang Seo also brought on Pham Tuan Hai and Do Duy Manh early in the second half to replace Phan Van Duc and Bui Hoang Viet Anh as they tried to get the equaliser but the Thai defenders played superbly in front of their home fans.
Striker Nguyen Tien Linh missed a good chance to bag the equaliser in the 70th minute when his effort from the left side was saved by Thai goalkeeper Kampon Phatomakkakul before the game was constantly disrupted by injuries to several players.
Vietnam, though never gave up and had two good chances - a header by Nguyen Thanh Chung that sailed wide in the 81st minute and a powerful drive by Quang Hai that flew over the bar in injury time.
Thailand, who eliminated Malaysia in the semi-finals, were down to 10 men in the final seconds when Peeradol Chamrasamee was sent off for a second yellow card offence, but they managed to hold on for victory.
Gianni Infantino, the president of world football governing body FIFA, was also present to watch the final.
For the record, the second most successful team after Thailand are Singapore with four titles, followed by Vietnam (two) and Malaysia (one in 2010).
-- BERNAMA
Bernama
Tue Jan 17 2023
Thailand's Theerathon Bunmathan, left holding trophy, and team manager Nualphan Lamsam, right holding trophy, celebrate with the Thailand team after winning the AFF Cup final against Vietnam. - AP
WEF: Perdagangan Malaysia, Arab Saudi boleh diperkukuh menerusi kerjasama - Tengku Zafrul
Kerjasama Malaysia-Arab Saudi dengan saling memanfaat kekuatan antara satu sama lain dapat menyokong pertumbuhan perdagangan dan pelaburan.
Letupan bom Sungai Golok: Empat anggota keselamatan Thailand cedera
Empat anggota keselamatan Thailand cedera apabila terkena letupan bom di Sungai Golok, Thailand, malam tadi.
Berang tidak bantu angkat tong gas, penghantar barang dibelasah, motosikal dirosakkan
Suspek menyerang mangsa dengan topi keledar sehingga menyebabkan mangsa mengalami kecederaan di dahi.
Arahan tutup pasar malam waktu Maghrib tidak babitkan peniaga bukan Islam
Arahan penutupan sementara hanya membabitkan peniaga Islam bagaimanapun turut menggalakkan peniaga bukan Islam sekiranya mahu berbuat demikian.
Pelan Tindakan Pendidikan dan Penghayatan Rukun Negara dilancar Ogos ini - Aaron
Ia melibatkan Kementerian Perpaduan Negara, Kementerian Pendidikan, Kementerian Pendidikan Tinggi, dan Kementerian Komunikasi.
Peserta maraton Cyberjaya dipapah lepasi garisan penamat
Peserta maraton rebah di garisan penamat sejurus sebelum menamatkan larian 42km dalam perlumbaan Twincity Marathon Cyberjaya.
Proton buka pusat penyelidikan dan pembangunan di Teluk Hangzhou, China
Pembukaan pusat R&D itu akan meningkatkan sinergi kecekapan dalaman mereka dengan penggunaan sumber dan pengetahuan Geely.
AWANI Ringkas: Wujudkan akta lindungi pekerja OKU/autistik
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu: Calon PH tayang sijil UPSR 7A, SPM 10A
Calon PH, Pang Sock Tao menyahut cabaran Ketua Penerangan Pas, Ahmad Fadhli Shaari supaya menunjukkan kelulusan pendidikan rendah dan menengahnya.
AWANI Ringkas: Wujudkan akta lindungi pekerja OKU/autistik
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.