Vietnam closed the ASEAN Cup 2026 group stage with plenty to celebrate after a 3-1 victory over Cambodia at My Dinh Stadium on August 7 secured top spot in Group A and strengthened their bid to defend the regional crown.

The result took Vietnam to 10 points from four matches, with three wins and one draw. Kim Sang Sik’s side scored 13 goals during the group stage and conceded just once, with Cambodia becoming the first team in the group to find a way past the Vietnamese defence.

Beyond securing a place in the semifinals, the victory extended Vietnam’s unbeaten streak under Kim to 22 matches, comprising 19 wins and three draws — a new record for the national team, according to the supplied reports.

The run began with a 1-1 draw against India in October 2024 and has stretched across Vietnam’s victorious ASEAN Cup 2024 campaign, the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, official international friendlies during FIFA windows and now the ASEAN Cup 2026 group stage.

Vietnam will face the runners-up from Group B in the semifinals, with their opponent to be determined after the group’s final matches on August 8.

Cambodia test Vietnam before late breakthrough

Vietnam went into their final Group A match looking to secure first place and immediately took control, while Cambodia defended deep and committed numbers behind the ball.

The pressure paid off in the 18th minute.

Dinh Bac won possession in Cambodia’s half, drove into the penalty area and produced a precise finish past goalkeeper Salim Koy to give the hosts the lead.

Vietnam continued to dominate possession and create pressure but were unable to add to their advantage before halftime.

Cambodia remained in the contest and delivered an unexpected response after the break.

A quick counterattack in the 72nd minute ended with Iago Bento scoring the equaliser, briefly putting Vietnam under pressure and ending their run without conceding during the group stage.

The hosts eventually regained control in the closing stages.

In the 85th minute, Vakhim Im turned the ball into his own net while attempting to intervene as Vietnam attacked, restoring the home side’s advantage.

Dinh Bac then put the result beyond doubt in the 89th minute, completing his brace with a delicate lob to seal the 3-1 victory.

The forward was subsequently named Player of the Match.

“When I am on the pitch, I only think about winning, not about how many goals I can score,” Dinh Bac said after the game.

He credited the depth and competition within Vietnam’s squad for pushing players to improve.

“I think Vietnam now have a lot of very good forwards. And it is not just the forwards — there are quality players in every position,” he said.

“I think that competitive pressure helps me improve and makes me work harder in training. Fair competition gives me the opportunity to give everything when I play and contribute to the whole team.”

Kim Sang Sik sees lessons despite victory

Head coach Kim Sang Sik welcomed the result and thanked supporters after Vietnam completed their primary objective of finishing first in the group.

“First of all, I am very happy that Vietnam won,” Kim said. “Thanks to that, we finished first in the group and advanced to the ASEAN Cup 2026 semifinals. “The entire team would like to express our sincere gratitude to everyone. The support from the fans helped us achieve the best possible result.”

The South Korean coach nevertheless acknowledged that Vietnam had areas to improve, particularly after Cambodia found their equaliser in the second half.

“There were several moments when the players lost concentration, which led to some defensive mistakes,” he said. “We can learn many lessons from the mistakes we made.”

Kim also explained his decision to replace Nguyen Hoang Duc, saying the midfielder’s physical condition had declined during the match.

“Hoang Duc performed his role very well in the previous matches,” he said. “For the upcoming games, we will continue making plans to achieve the best possible results.”

Kim said Hoang Hen and Tai Loc had experienced health issues before the match but recovered and were available to play.

The coach also stressed the importance of managing his squad throughout the tournament, with both tactical demands and players’ physical condition requiring changes from game to game.

“When we participate in a tournament, we need to make many changes to the lineup, particularly because of tactics and the physical condition of the players in each match,” Kim said. “We think about those issues a lot. Before every game, we calculate carefully and prepare for changes to the lineup. The whole team is trying to create a cohesive unit so that whoever comes onto the pitch can fulfil their responsibilities.”

Quang Hai sets new Vietnam record

The Cambodia match also delivered a major individual milestone for Nguyen Quang Hai.

The midfielder made his 84th appearance for Vietnam, moving past former striker Le Cong Vinh to become the national team’s most-capped player, according to the supplied reports.

Quang Hai had drawn level with Cong Vinh when he came on during the closing stages of Vietnam’s 3-0 victory over Indonesia on August 3.

His appearance against Cambodia moved him clear at the top of the list.

Quang Hai made his senior international debut in June 2017 in a draw with Jordan during qualifying for the 2019 Asian Cup.

Since then, he has played a significant role in one of the most successful periods in Vietnamese football, including ASEAN Cup titles in 2018 and 2024. The midfielder has scored 15 goals for the national team.

At 29, Quang Hai remains an important part of Kim’s plans, both as a playmaker and as captain during Vietnam’s latest regional campaign.

His record could continue to grow during the knockout stages, while another title would carry further significance. If Vietnam win ASEAN Cup 2026, Quang Hai would become the first Vietnamese player to win the regional championship three times.

Cambodia coach tips Vietnam for final

Cambodia coach Koji Gyotoku acknowledged Vietnam’s superiority after the match and backed the defending champions to reach the final.

“I used many young players and they performed very well, which made me happy,” Gyotoku said. “Cambodia’s tactics were not bad either. We had opportunities and managed to score against Vietnam. However, the second goal we conceded caused us to collapse, and we even lost a player after that situation. I regret the result.”

Cambodia were the only Group A team to score against Vietnam, and Gyotoku said his previous experience against the Vietnamese side had helped him prepare for the match.

Asked which Vietnam player had impressed him most, the Japanese coach pointed to Xuan Son.

“I think it is Xuan Son. His skills are very good and he is extremely difficult to stop,” Gyotoku said.

He was even more emphatic when assessing Vietnam as a whole.

“I could not find a weakness in Vietnam. They played better than us,” he said. “I think Vietnam can reach the final.”

Home advantage could await Vietnam in final

Finishing first in Group A could carry another significant benefit for Vietnam as they pursue a second consecutive ASEAN Cup title.

If Kim’s side advance through the two-legged semifinal, Vietnam will play the second leg of the final at home.

History suggests that could be an important advantage.

Vietnam have twice previously played the return leg of an ASEAN Cup final at home, in 2008 and 2018, and lifted the trophy on both occasions.

In their two most recent finals in which the second leg was played away from home, Vietnam won the championship only in 2024, when they defeated Thailand.

For now, however, the immediate challenge is the semifinal.

Vietnam will have a relatively long break before returning to action, giving the players an opportunity to recover after the group stage.

“We have quite a long break,” Kim said. “During that time, the players can recover physically and mentally. The coaching staff will make plans so that we can achieve the best possible result.”

Vietnam head into that break with momentum firmly on their side: Group A winners, 13 goals scored, just one conceded and an unprecedented 22 matches without defeat.

The group stage is over. The defence of their Southeast Asian crown now moves into the knockout phase.

Dai Nam - Thien Binh