Vietnam head coach Kim Sang Sik admitted his players failed to execute their game plan and became increasingly rushed after a positive opening victory over Timor-Leste.

Explaining his decision to substitute Dinh Bac before halftime, Kim said the forward had not fulfilled the tactical role assigned to him.

"Tai Loc came on and performed better. He even hit the crossbar. It's unfortunate he couldn't score, but every player has to sacrifice for the team's objective," Kim said.

The South Korean coach also acknowledged that several of his key players failed to perform at their usual level.

Captain Nguyen Quang Hai struggled to influence the game, while striker Nguyen Xuan Son was effectively isolated by Singapore's defensive setup.

Kim admitted he may have waited too long before replacing Quang Hai but defended his decision to keep the captain on the pitch because of his leadership.

"We didn't press effectively, partly because Singapore played through our pressure well. After beating Timor-Leste, perhaps our players became overexcited and lost their composure in this match," he said.

Despite the disappointing result, Kim praised his players' commitment and thanked supporters who filled My Dinh Stadium despite rainy conditions.

Singapore satisfied with valuable point

Singapore head coach Gavin Lee said his team executed its tactical plan well and deserved the point.

"Vietnam are among the tournament favorites, but we also created several opportunities and played well. Of course I wanted to win, but a draw is an acceptable result," he said.

Lee said lessons learned from Singapore's semifinal defeat to Vietnam two years ago helped his players remain composed under pressure.

He also praised the traveling Singapore supporters, saying he was pleased the team rewarded them with a resilient performance.

Indonesia showdown now takes center stage

Vietnam left Hanoi early on August 1 for Indonesia, where Kim Sang Sik's squad will have three days to prepare for what many consider the most important match of the group stage.

The coaching staff plans to review the Singapore draw immediately upon arriving in Indonesia, focusing on improving finishing, pressing and defensive concentration after a performance that fell below expectations.

The goalless draw dropped Vietnam behind both Indonesia and Singapore in the Group A standings, increasing the pressure on the defending champions to produce a positive result away from home if they are to keep their ASEAN Cup title defense on track.

Match highlights

Vietnam dominated possession but failed to convert multiple scoring opportunities.

Patrik Le Giang produced a crucial save in the 77th minute to keep Vietnam level.

Tai Loc struck the crossbar late in the second half.

Kim Sang Sik substituted Dinh Bac before halftime in a tactical change.

Singapore earned its first point against Vietnam since the teams met in the previous ASEAN Cup knockout stage.

Vietnam travels to Indonesia on August 1 ahead of their pivotal Group A encounter.

Thien Binh - Dai Nam