Vietnam triumphed over Thailand on January 2 at Viet Tri Stadium in Phu Tho Province, thanks to a brace from Nguyen Xuan Son in the 59th and 73rd minutes.

Chalermsak Aukkee scored for Thailand in the 82nd minute, keeping their hopes alive for the second leg in Bangkok on January 5.

ESPN highlighted Xuan Son’s exceptional form, describing him as the critical factor in Vietnam’s journey toward the 2024 ASEAN Cup title.

"Xuan Son has shown in every match that he alone seems capable of leading Vietnam to their third ASEAN Cup championship.

Of course, no team wins with just one player. Strikers, no matter how skilled, rely on teammates' support and a solid defense to secure victories.

Still, it’s undeniable that without naturalized Brazilian striker Nguyen Xuan Son, Vietnam would likely not be this close to their first championship since 2018.”

ESPN noted Xuan Son’s impressive goal-scoring consistency:

Group stage: Scored two goals in his debut against Myanmar (5-0 win), helping Vietnam top Group B.

Semifinals: Netted three goals across two legs against Singapore, leading Vietnam to a dominant 5-1 aggregate win.

Final, first leg: Troubled Thailand’s defense, scoring two critical goals that secured the win.

The report praised his tenacity during the first leg of the final. Despite a challenging first half, Xuan Son broke the deadlock in the 59th minute with his signature poaching style.

In the 73rd minute, he seized an opportunity in his own half, dispossessing Chalermsak Aukkee. With a burst of speed, he outran the Thai defense and delivered a precise shot into the far corner, doubling Vietnam’s lead.

Although Xuan Son missed a chance for a hat-trick, which could have sealed the championship for Vietnam, Thailand managed to regain composure with Chalermsak Aukkee’s header in the 82nd minute.

The goal offers Thailand a lifeline as they prepare for the second leg in Bangkok.

However, ESPN cautioned that Thailand now knows who they must contain: Xuan Son, the player most capable of leading the Golden Star Warriors to the 2024 ASEAN Cup title.

Lam Hoang