Historic victory of the Vietnam national team

Pakansari had previously stirred up many unpleasant memories for Vietnamese football. However, on the night of August 3, 2026, history was rewritten. The Vietnamese team not only beat Indonesia, but also won convincingly 3-0 to finish top of the group and open the door wide to the semi-finals with a more favorable path.

It was a victory of courage, tactical thinking, and above all, a strong imprint of coach Kim Sang Sik. After a disappointing draw against Singapore, many doubts were directed towards the South Korean strategist.

Kim was questioned about his use of players, his substitution decisions, and his ability to read the game. But precisely when under the most pressure, coach Kim Sang Sik made the boldest decisions.

The fact that he kept Quang Hai, Xuan Son, Hoang Hen, and Van Hau on the bench surprised many. Instead, he gave opportunities to Thanh Long, Hai Long, Tai Loc, and Viet Anh. These were not just personnel changes but a complete shift in the approach to the game.

Vietnam did not launch a frenzied attack like against Singapore. The away team was calm, controlled the game, pressed at the right moments, and delivered extremely precise strikes.

In the 6th minute, Van Vi combined well with Hoang Duc before opening the scoring. Less than 10 minutes later, Hai Long made a brilliant burst of speed and then finished decisively to make it 2-0. The first two shots both resulted in goals, leaving more than thirty thousand Indonesian spectators stunned right in the Pakansari stands. The right flank with the rather slow captain Ridho of the home side was exploited thoroughly.

More importantly, after those two goals, the Vietnam national team did not lose control. Coach Kim Sang Sik immediately asked his players to slow down the pace, maintain team shape, and cede some ball possession to wait for Indonesia to become impatient.

It was a completely different image from the draw against Singapore. Instead of being hasty, the Vietnamese players played slowly, confidently, and with extreme discipline.

The biggest highlight was in the midfield. For the first time at the ASEAN Cup 2026, Thanh Long started, and the CAHN midfielder had an almost perfect match. He became a shield in front of the defense, constantly intercepting, tackling, and causing the maestro Thom Haye to almost lose his influence. One of the best-rated midfielders in Southeast Asia had a mediocre evening against Thanh Long's defensive abilities.

Meanwhile, Hoang Duc played one of his best matches under coach Kim Sang Sik. No longer having to share the organizing role with Quang Hai, the Ninh Binh midfielder completely controlled the central area with his tempo regulation, intelligent passing, and classy escapes from pressure. It was Hoang Duc who assisted the opening goal and then later performed a dribble to set up Xuan Son to seal the 3-0 victory.

If the midfield controlled the game, the defense completely reassured the fans. The decision to bring in Viet Anh to replace Van Hau was seen as a turning point. After a poor performance against Singapore, Van Hau gave way, and Viet Anh responded with a brave match. The image of this center-back bleeding after a collision but continuing to play became a symbol of the fighting spirit of the Vietnam national team.

Alongside him, Thanh Chung and Xuan Manh also played tightly, locking down Indonesia's fast attacks. Patrik Le Giang kept a clean sheet for the third consecutive match and only had to show his skills once on a header from Rizky Eka Pratama at the end of the match.

More remarkably, the substitute players also made a difference. When Indonesia pushed forward with all their remaining hope, coach Kim Sang Sik introduced Xuan Son and Hoang Hen. The two energetic naturalized strikers immediately caused chaos in the Indonesian defense. In the 71st minute, Xuan Son moved intelligently and then delicately flicked the ball after a classy assist from Hoang Duc, completing a perfect 3-0 victory.

That goal confirmed the depth of the Vietnam national team's squad. The stars no longer had to play based on reputation but on actual form and tactical suitability.

This victory not only helped Vietnam top Group A but also opened up a huge advantage in the journey to defend the championship. With the top spot in the group, coach Kim Sang Sik and his players will likely face an opponent considered more favorable in the semi-finals instead of having to meet Thailand very early.

More importantly, the Vietnam national team avenged the 0-3 defeat to Indonesia at My Dinh in 2024, a match that ended coach Philippe Troussier's reign. Two years later, against the same opponent, coach Kim Sang Sik delivered a convincing answer.

This is not just a victory. This is an affirmation that the Vietnam national team is still the Southeast Asian champion, still has the courage to overcome the greatest pressure, and still possesses a coach who knows how to make changes at the right time.