South Korean media: 'Coach Kim Sang-sik on the verge of an unprecedented record set by Park Hang-seo'

"A great record that even Park Hang-seo failed to achieve," Coach Kim Sang-sik challenges a historic milestone: "The first to help Vietnam win the ASEAN Championship two consecutive times." This is the title of a recent article from Daum.

The Vietnamese national football team, under the guidance of Coach Kim Sang-sik, has secured a spot in the semifinals of the ASEAN Championship – Hyundai Cup 2026. With this, Vietnamese football takes another step toward the record of winning the ASEAN Championship "two consecutive times," a feat that even "Vietnam's football hero," former Coach Park Hang-seo, could not accomplish.

Vietnam defeated Cambodia 3-1 in the final match of Group A, held at My Dinh National Stadium in Vietnam. The home team took the lead with an opening goal by Nguyen Dinh Bac in the 18th minute. Although they were equalized in the 71st minute and at times found themselves in a precarious position, Vietnam scored two consecutive goals in the 84th and 89th minutes to secure a full three points.

With this victory, Vietnam finished top of Group A with 10 points (3 wins, 1 draw), earning a spot in the semifinals. Singapore (8 points) finished behind Vietnam and also advanced to the final four, while Indonesia, Cambodia, and Timor-Leste were eliminated. Indonesia, a team that once threatened the dominance of Thailand and Vietnam, suffered the embarrassment of being eliminated in the group stage for two consecutive tournaments. Earlier, Vietnam also achieved their first victory on Indonesian soil in 30 years.

Vietnam's opponent in the semifinals will be Malaysia. Under Coach Kim Sang-sik, the team's goal is now the championship. Kim's squad previously reached the top of Southeast Asia two years ago in the same tournament. That was Vietnam's first title in three editions and came six years after their triumph under Coach Park Hang-seo in 2018. In this tournament, Vietnam must defend the crown they reclaimed in the previous edition.

If they win the championship again this year, Coach Kim Sang-sik will become the first manager in Vietnamese football history to lead the team to two consecutive ASEAN Championship titles. A coach winning the tournament twice with Vietnam would also be an unprecedented achievement in the country's football history.

Coach Kim Sang-sik is confidently challenging a great record that even former Coach Park Hang-seo could not attain.

After leading Vietnam to the championship in 2018, Coach Park Hang-seo aimed to defend the title in the 2020 edition, but the team was eliminated in the semifinals in a regrettable manner. In the 2022 edition, Vietnam lost in the final and finished as runners-up.

Similar to the era of Coach Park Hang-seo, the South Korean flag once again flew in the stands in Vietnam during this match. It was a way for fans to show their support and gratitude for the South Korean head coach.

Both the semifinals and finals of the tournament will be played in a home-and-away format, consisting of two legs. The two semifinal legs will take place on the 16th and 19th, while the two highly anticipated final matches will be held on the 22nd and 26th.