Vietnam U22 staged a spectacular comeback, winning convincingly against Thailand, sending fans into a frenzy.

The clash between Vietnam U22 and Thailand U22 at the 33rd SEA Games provided fans with an emotional and dramatic match, true to the nature of the "Southeast Asian derby".

From the very first minutes, the U22 Thailand team showed their determination to impose their game. The home team constantly pressed goalkeeper Trung Kien's goal with fast-paced and skillful attacks. In the 4th minute, Seskan had a dangerous shot, but the ball went just over the crossbar. U22 Vietnam wasn't completely outmatched, with Van Khang responding with a decisive long-range shot, but it lacked the necessary accuracy.

The turning point of the first half came in the 21st minute. From a direct free kick, Yotsakon of Thailand U22 unleashed a superb shot that Trung Kien couldn't save despite getting a hand to the ball. This was the striker's 7th goal at the SEA Games 33, confirming his devastating form. Just 10 minutes later, Seksan continued to torment Vietnam U22 with a dangerous long-range shot, doubling the lead for the "War Elephants".

Trailing 0-2, the Vietnam U22 team found themselves in a clear deadlock. Their midfield was stifled, their attacking moves lacked cohesion, while their defense constantly had to fend off sharp counter-attacks from the home team. The first half ended with a significant advantage for Thailand, leading many to believe the gold medal was already firmly in the hands of the Thai team.

However, the second half saw a completely different Vietnam U22 team. Coach Kim Sang-sik 's tactical imprint was clearly evident with timely personnel adjustments. Early in the half, following a well-coordinated play in the midfield between Thai Son and Dinh Bac, Vietnam U22 was awarded a penalty. From the penalty spot, Dinh Bac calmly struck the ball into the far corner, reducing the score to 1-2 and rekindling hope for the red-shirted team.

The momentum continued. In the 58th minute, Van Thuan unleashed a long-range shot that forced the Thai goalkeeper to push the ball away, resulting in a corner kick. The same substitute then delivered a tricky cross, causing Waris to awkwardly score an own goal under pressure from Ly Duc. The score was leveled at 2-2, and the game completely turned around.

In the following minutes, the Vietnam U22 team played confidently and created a series of dangerous opportunities. Xuan Bac, Hieu Minh, and Thanh Nhan all had chances to finish off their opponents, but the excellent performance of the Thai goalkeeper and a bit of bad luck prevented a third goal from coming in regular time. The two teams were forced to go into extra time with the score tied 2-2.

The drama reached its climax in the 6th minute of the first extra time period. From a calm touch by Van Thuan, the ball rebounded and Thanh Nhan was in the right place at the right time to tap it into the net from close range, giving Vietnam U22 the lead for the first time, 3-2. The goal was like a knife that shattered the home team's morale, leaving the Rajamangala Stadium stands in stunned silence.

For the remainder of the match, the U22 Thailand team pushed forward to find an equalizer but were unable to break through the resilient defense of U22 Vietnam. The final whistle blew, bringing an end to this historic match and overwhelming joy to the coaching staff, players, and fans of Vietnam.

This victory not only helped the Vietnam U22 team win the SEA Games 33 gold medal right on Thailand's home soil, but also marked the second consecutive time coach Kim Sang-sik defeated this opponent in a final. Vietnamese men's football concluded 2025 on a sweet note with a hat-trick of regional championships at the senior, U23, and U22 levels, opening up great confidence for the future.

Lao referee risks losing his job permanently for penalizing Vietnam's women's team? Hải Dương16:18:02 18/12/2025The SEA Games 33 women's football final ended with much disappointment for Vietnamese fans. A series of controversies erupted after a questionable penalty call by the Laotian female referee, leading to a painful defeat for the Vietnamese women's team.