Korean newspaper: 'Coach Kim Sang Sik achieved what Mr. Park Hang Seo never did'

"Something Park Hang Seo failed to achieve in three decades," Kim Sang Sik makes history with Vietnam: 21 games unbeaten, first away victory against Indonesia in 30 years," according to the latest Osen (Korea) piece.

According to Osen, Coach Kim Sang Sik once again made history for Vietnamese football. After setting a new record with a 21-match unbeaten streak, he also led the Vietnam national team to a win on Indonesian soil after 30 years of waiting—something no coach had ever done—thus continuing to create the "Kim Sang Sik miracle."

The Vietnam national team under Coach Kim Sang Sik defeated Indonesia 3-0 in the third matchday of Group A of the 2026 ASEAN Championship (ASEAN Championship Hyundai Cup), held on August 3 (Korean time) at Pakansari Stadium in Bogor, Indonesia.

With this victory, Vietnam has 2 wins and 1 draw (7 points, +10 goal difference) to climb to the top of Group A. Although tied on 7 points with Singapore, Vietnam leads thanks to goal difference, thereby gaining a major advantage in the race for the semifinals.

However, this win is not merely a group-stage victory. Since Kim Sang Sik took charge, Vietnamese football has been breaking historical milestones never achieved before.

Since a 1-1 draw with India in October 2024, Vietnam has not lost any further matches. After the win over Indonesia, the team extended its unbeaten streak to 21 games with 18 wins and 3 draws, achieving a win rate of 85.71%.

This is the longest unbeaten run in Vietnamese football history. The previous record was 18 unbeaten matches, set between 2016 and 2018 under coaches Nguyễn Hữu Thắng, Mai Đức Chung, and Park Hang Seo. Coach Kim Sang Sik not only surpassed that milestone but also raised the new record to 21 matches with a victory right on Indonesian soil.

Not only that, but Vietnam also ended the "curse" that had lasted for 30 years on Indonesian soil.

This is Vietnam's first win on Indonesian soil since the 1996 AFF Cup third-place match (now the ASEAN Championship), thereby closing a three-decade-long wait.

Coach Kim Sang Sik also continues to maintain an outstanding record against a rival once considered a "nemesis" of Vietnamese football. Since the defeat in the 2016 ASEAN Cup semifinal first leg, Vietnam has faced Indonesia 6 times, with 3 wins and 3 draws, without losing any match.

The significance of the win is even greater as it is Indonesia's largest home defeat in ASEAN Championship history. Before the match, the head-to-head record between the two teams in this tournament was completely balanced with 3 wins, 7 draws, and 3 losses each. After the 3-0 victory, Vietnam has taken the lead with 4 wins, 7 draws, and 3 losses.

Coach Kim Sang Sik's Vietnam started the tournament with a 7-0 win over Timor Leste, then drew 0-0 with Singapore, before overcoming the biggest challenge—an away trip to Indonesia—with a convincing victory.

Now, attention turns to the final group stage match against Cambodia on August 7. Given the current balance of power, a draw or win will officially secure Vietnam's place in the semifinals.

In the ASEAN Hyundai Cup, where Hyundai Motor serves as the main sponsor on the occasion of its 30th anniversary, Coach Kim Sang Sik's goal is clear: to help Vietnam become the first team to successfully defend the championship, while also winning the title for the fourth time in history.

A 21-match unbeaten streak since taking office, the longest unbeaten record in Vietnam national team history, and the first win on Indonesian soil in 30 years. Coach Kim Sang Sik is still continuing to write new pages of history for Vietnamese football step by step.