Bola, a leading sports newspaper of Indonesia, described the match as a remarkable and emotional comeback, highlighting the resilience and composure shown by head coach Kim Sang-sik’s side in a final played under intense pressure at Bangkok’s Rajamangala Stadium. The paper referred to the Vietnamese players as the Golden Star Warriors, noting that few teams would have recovered psychologically after conceding twice in the opening half.

According to Bola, Thailand enjoyed a near-perfect first half, taking a 2-0 lead amid a raucous home crowd that sensed another gold medal. At that point, Indonesian media said, Vietnam faced not only a tactical challenge but also a severe mental test in hostile surroundings.

The tone of the match shifted after the interval. Bola wrote that Vietnam rose forcefully, playing with greater urgency and intensity while taking calculated risks to disrupt Thailand’s rhythm. The turning point, it said, came in the 48th minute when Nguyen Dinh Bac converted a penalty, a goal described as releasing the psychological pressure and unsettling the hosts.

Vietnam’s equaliser, scored by Pham Ly Duc, was seen by Indonesian outlets as further evidence of the team’s growing maturity, particularly in capitalising on chaotic moments inside the Thai penalty area. The decisive moment arrived deep into stoppage time when substitute Thanh Nhan struck in the 96th minute, a goal Bola labelled a finishing blow that left the stadium stunned.

Meanwhile, Indonesia’s Tribunnews echoed those views, praising Vietnam’s refusal to surrender and its defensive discipline after taking a 3-2 lead. The paper noted that, unlike Thailand, Vietnam avoided costly mistakes and effectively neutralised the hosts’ attacking build-up in the closing stages.

Media in Malaysia also lauded the champions. Outlets such as Stadium Astro and Sport Detik described the victory as deserved, citing Vietnam’s composure, physical endurance and ability to seize key moments in a high-stakes final.

In contrast, Thai media adopted a restrained tone following the defeat. Siam Sport reported that Thailand had suffered a painful 2-3 loss after extra time, settling for a third consecutive SEA Games silver medal. The paper acknowledged that despite leading by two goals, the hosts were unable to halt Vietnam’s comeback, allowing the visitors to claim their third men’s football gold medal in SEA Games history.

Thailand’s Khaosod headlined its report by noting that Thailand had led early but ultimately fell short, missing the chance to secure a fourth consecutive title. Thairath focused on the prolonged wait for gold, pointing out that Thai fans have now gone eight years without a SEA Games men’s football championship.

On social media, disappointment among Thai supporters was palpable, with some questioning the team’s mentality and others criticising head coach Tawatchai Damrong-Ongtrakul for adopting a defensive approach too early, a move they believe invited sustained pressure from Vietnam.

Beyond Southeast Asia, the International Olympic Committee’s official website highlighted Vietnam’s achievement with the headline “Vietnam come back to stun hosts Thailand and claim men's football gold after extra time”. The IOC said that the victory marked Vietnam’s third title in the last four SEA Games editions. It also praised the team’s ability to withstand the intense atmosphere created by the home crowd.

“The night belonged to Vietnam in the end,” the IOC wrote, adding that the young squad demonstrated composure and belief to overcome both the scoreboard and the pressure of playing against the hosts.

The reaction from international media underscored that Vietnam’s triumph is more than a single match victory, instead reinforcing the team’s growing reputation for resilience and competitiveness, and signalling the rising stature of Vietnamese football at regional level.

Vietnam U22 crowned SEA Games 33 champions after dramatic comeback against Thailand

VOV.VN - Vietnam U22 claimed a historic gold medal at SEA Games 33 with a thrilling 3-2 comeback win over Thailand U22 in the men’s football final on December 18 at Rajamangala Stadium, Thailand.