Dinh Bac's hat-trick powers Vietnam to emphatic 7-0 win over Timor-Leste

The convincing victory gave head coach Kim Sang-sik the perfect start to Vietnam's title defence while putting the team in a strong early position in the group thanks to a significant goal difference advantage.

Despite a rain-soaked pitch following heavy showers before kickoff, Vietnam immediately imposed themselves with dominant possession, quick passing combinations and relentless attacking pressure.

The breakthrough came as early as the seventh minute when Hoang Hen reacted quickest after Dinh Bac's initial effort was spilled by the Timor-Leste goalkeeper, calmly converting the rebound to give Vietnam an early lead.

Forced to abandon their defensive approach, Timor-Leste pushed further forward in search of an equaliser but left increasing space for Vietnam's pacey attack to exploit.

Midfielders Hoang Duc and Quang Hai dictated the tempo throughout the opening half, while the attacking trio of Hoang Hen, Dinh Bac and Nguyen Xuan Son repeatedly stretched the Timor-Leste defence.

Dinh Bac doubled Vietnam's advantage in the 31st minute after collecting Hoang Duc's through ball, beating his marker and finishing clinically into the far corner.

Hoang Hen completed his brace in the 41st minute after capitalising on a defensive mistake, while Dinh Bac scored his second just one minute later following an assist from Quang Hai.

Vietnam entered the break with a commanding 5-0 lead after another attack resulted in an own goal, which was confirmed following a VAR review.

Apart from the scoreline, Vietnam enjoyed complete control throughout the first half. Their high pressing prevented Timor-Leste from building meaningful attacks, leaving goalkeeper Patrik Le Giang with little to do.

Vietnam maintained the same intensity after the restart. Although Kim Sang-sik's side slowed the pace compared with the closing stages of the first half, they continued to dominate possession and comfortably controlled the game.

Timor-Leste managed a handful of attempts after halftime, including a header from Luis Figo that sailed over the crossbar and another effort that struck the post after taking a deflection.

Those chances, however, proved to be rare exceptions against Vietnam's disciplined defence. The gulf in quality became even more apparent in the 66th minute.

Following another well-worked attacking move, Dinh Bac completed his first ASEAN Cup hat-trick with a composed finish to make it 6-0, capping an outstanding individual performance from the 22-year-old forward.

His three-goal display not only established him as the standout performer of the match but also highlighted how effectively he has adapted to Kim Sang-sik's tactical system.

With victory already secured, the Vietnam coach introduced Viet Anh, Tuan Tai, Van Do and Hai Long, rotating his squad while preserving the team's attacking momentum.

Even after switching to a back-four formation, Vietnam continued to press forward. Captain Quang Hai completed the scoring in the 79th minute with a precise finish inside the penalty area, sealing an emphatic 7-0 victory.

In addition to his goal, the experienced midfielder orchestrated much of Vietnam's attacking play and created numerous chances throughout the match.

The comprehensive victory gives Vietnam an ideal start to their ASEAN Cup campaign, both in terms of points and goal difference, while boosting confidence ahead of more demanding fixtures later in the tournament.

Vietnam will return home for their second Group A match against Singapore that beat Cambodia 2-1 in another Group A match the same day, at My Dinh National Stadium on July 31, aiming to extend their winning start and take another step toward retaining the ASEAN Cup title.

Champions Vietnam seek winning start as Timor-Leste chase upset

VOV.VN - Defending champions Vietnam will launch their ASEAN Cup 2026 campaign against Timor-Leste that have shown steady signs of progress in recent years on the evening of July 24, seeking a winning start to their title defence.