Dinh Bac was the standout performer, scoring three times and providing an assist to earn the organizers' Player of the Match award.

It was the first hat-trick of his Vietnam career and took him into the national team's record books.

Before Dinh Bac, Huynh Duc held the record for the most goals scored by a Vietnam player in the opening match of the regional tournament, with two against Cambodia at the 2002 Tiger Cup.

More than two decades later, Dinh Bac surpassed that mark with three goals and added an assist in an outstanding display.

His goals highlighted his sharp finishing, pace, technique and intelligent movement.

He might even have scored four, but a late effort was ruled out for offside in a tight decision.

Given a starting role against Timor-Leste, the CAHN striker made the most of the opportunity, helping the defending champions achieve their objectives while also putting himself in contention for the ASEAN Cup 2026 top scorer award.

"The whole team played an excellent match. We prepared very carefully according to the coaching staff's plans. The victory belongs to the entire team," Dinh Bac said. "Vietnam will try to maintain this form and work toward a successful tournament."

He said he was equally pleased with all three of his goals.

"I liked all three goals today. As for my celebration dance, I learned it from some Brazilian players. They are my idols, so I wanted to follow their style," he said. "I hope the fans continue to accompany and support Vietnam. Their support in the stands is a huge motivation for us to give everything and aim for victory in the matches ahead."

Xuan Son: 'Come on, Vietnam!'

Xuan Son also found the net, and while he scored only once in the seven-goal victory, the goal carried special meaning for the No. 12 striker.

"I am very happy with this victory. First of all, I feel extremely fortunate. Winning is the most important thing," Xuan Son said. "We had a good start, and winning by a big margin means a lot for our journey in the tournament. I always try my best and do everything I can to contribute to the team. For me, whether I score or not, the most important thing is still the team's final victory."

The striker said his responsibility was to keep pursuing goals regardless of how many chances came his way.

"My job is to score in every match. Sometimes I cannot score too many goals, but I always push myself," he said. "I train hard so I can perform better in the next matches. That is my job. I keep challenging myself and doing the best I can."

Xuan Son also praised the cohesion of the Vietnam squad.

"Everything becomes easier when you play alongside intelligent players. We have a very good connection on the pitch," he said. "The attack played excellently, and in fact the whole team played very well. The defense kept a clean sheet in the opening match. I am really happy that we won."

He ended his interview enthusiastically: "Come on, Vietnam! Come on everyone, come on, come on! Determination, determination!"

A big win, but not a flawless one

Despite the 7-0 scoreline and the clean sheet, Vietnam's performance still contained issues that may concern the coaching staff, particularly in defense.

It was not the first time those problems had appeared.

In Vietnam's 4-0 friendly win over Myanmar before the ASEAN Cup, the opposition created several clear opportunities because the spacing between the midfield and defense was not always maintained properly.

Against Timor-Leste, the same issue emerged again.

Despite being rated far below Vietnam, Timor-Leste still managed to work the ball close to the Vietnamese goal on several occasions.

The concern was not simply how many opportunities they created, but how those chances developed.

At times, Timor-Leste players were able to receive the ball in relatively comfortable positions, facing insufficient pressure from Vietnam's midfield and limited close marking as they approached the penalty area.

That suggested the connection between the midfield and the three central defenders was not yet fully synchronized.

When Vietnam's front line pressed high up the pitch, space still appeared behind it, and cover was not always provided quickly enough.

Against Timor-Leste, Vietnam escaped punishment because their opponents lacked quality in front of goal.

Against stronger teams such as Malaysia, Indonesia or Thailand, the consequences could be very different.

There is little reason, however, to be overly critical after an opening match.

The ASEAN Cup still has a long way to run, and the positive for Vietnam is that these shortcomings emerged during a comprehensive victory rather than after a defeat.

Kim still has time to adjust the distances between his players, improve support between the lines and refine the defensive system.

The win over Timor-Leste provided plenty of satisfaction, but also served as a reminder that Vietnam's bid to defend their championship will not be decided by attacking power alone.

To go all the way, Kim and his players must turn an attractive victory into a more complete performance.

After the opening 90 minutes of ASEAN Cup 2026, that may be the most important lesson of all.

Duy Nguyen - Dai Nam