Vietnam beat Singapore 5-1 on aggregate, progress to ASEAN Cup final
VOV.VN - Vietnam persuasively defeated Singapore 3-1 in the second leg match of the ASEAN Cup 2024 semifinals at Viet Tri stadium on December 29 evening, and with an aggregate score of 5-1 across both legs, Vietnam advanced confidently to the final.
Vietnam took on Singapore in the second leg match at home, carrying a 2-0 advantage from the first leg. Naturalized striker Nguyen Xuan Son continued his outstanding form, helping coach Kim Sang-sik’s squad prevent their opponents from staging a comeback.
Similar to the first leg match, the most thrilling moments of the first half were all tied to VAR. The Vietnamese team narrowly escaped conceding a goal early in the match after a tense seven-minute VAR review determined that a Singaporean player was offside.
Coach Kim and his squad also experienced a moment of disappointment in the 21st minute when Ngoc Quang’s header found the net, but VAR ruled the goal out due to a prior foul.
Near the end of the half, Hai Long’s free kick hit the crossbar. VAR confirmed that Lionel Tan of Singapore had pulled Xuan Son down in the box, resulting in a penalty. The naturalized striker converted it successfully, giving Vietnam a 1-0 lead.
Singapore needed to score at least 4 goals to turn the situation around. They pushed higher in the second half, but despite their efforts, they failed to create an effective attacking pressure.
Meanwhile, their defense made a crucial mistake. Hoang Duc intercepted the ball from the Singapore goalkeeper, made a brilliant run, and assisted Xuan Son to extend the lead, making it 2-1.
Singapore pulled one back in the 74th minute with a stunning long-range strike by Kyoga Nakamura, making it 2-1.
After the goal, the visitors tried to apply pressure, but their hopes were dashed as the match entered injury time. Striker Tien Linh successfully converted a penalty, sealing a 3-1 victory for Vietnam.
With a convincing 5-1 aggregate score, Vietnam deserved a place in the ASEAN Cup 2024 final, where they will face either Thailand or the Philippines.
Although Vietnam secured a spot in the ASEAN Cup 2024 final, they paid a heavy price, with three key players suffering injuries during the match against Singapore. Van Thanh, Tan Tai, and Xuan Mạnh all sustained injuries, which could impact the team’s lineup in the upcoming final.
