We are now just one match away from finding out whether Vietnam or Thailand will emerge as the champions of the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup™ 2024 after the first leg of the final finished 2-1 in favour of the Golden Star Warriors.
Nguyen Xuan Son bagged a double for the hosts at Viet Tri Stadium but Chalermsak Aukkee’s late header for Thailand meant that there is still all to play for in the return leg scheduled to be held at Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok on Sunday.
With the regional showpiece approaching a thrilling climax, ASEAN United FC lets you, the fans, decide which of the three goals in the first leg of the title clash was the best by voting at the bottom of the article.
Nguyen Xuan Son (59')
Vietnam fans in Phu Tho had to wait until the 59th minute for a goal in the first leg of the final and it wasn’t a surprise that it came from Nguyen Xuan Son, who has been the driving force for Kim Sang-sik’s side to take them only 90 minutes away from their third ASEAN Championship title.
The breakthrough of the title clash came when Nguyen Quang Hai whipped a cross deep into the box from the right for Vu Van Thanh to knock it back across the goal. Xuan Son arrived at the far post to head home from close range and spark celebrations on and off the field.
Nguyen Xuan Son (73')
Xuan Son’s remarkable start to his international career got even better in the 73rd minute of the first leg of the final as he bagged his seventh and perhaps his best goal of the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup™ to double Vietnam’s advantage against defending champions Thailand.
The 27-year-old Golden Boot frontrunner dispossessed centre-back Chalermsak in his own half and raced forward with the ball before taking on Thailand captain Pansa Hemviboon and firing a left-foot strike past goalkeeper Patiwat Khammai into the bottom corner of the goal to give Vietnam the upper hand in the title decider.
Chalermsak Aukkee (83')
Trailing Vietnam by two goals, Thailand desperately searched for a lifeline at Viet Tri Stadium and it came through Chalermsak, who made amends for his earlier defensive error with a late goal that kept his side in the running for a third straight ASEAN Championship title triumph.
Chalermsak made a well-timed run between Vietnam defenders Bui Tien Dung and Nguyen Thanh Chung to get on the end of a Suphanat Mueanta cross and glance his header past goalkeeper Nguyen Dinh Trieu to make it 2-1 with seven minutes left on the clock in the first leg.
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