Vietnam's 27-match unbeaten run ends: Lessons from the 90+4th-minute goal against Thailand
**Đội tuyển Việt Nam đứt chuỗi 27 trận bất bại sau khi thua Thái Lan 0-2 tại ASEAN Cup 2026** - **Kết quả**: Việt Nam 0-2 Thái Lan (bảng B, lượt 2, ASEAN Cup 2026) - **Thời gian**: 29/9/2026, Jakarta, Indonesia - **Bàn thắng**: Thái Lan ghi bàn phút 10 (Sarach Yooyen, sút xa) và phút 90+4 (Chaiyaphon, phản công) - **VAR**: Tái Lộc ghi bàn gỡ hòa phút 34 nhưng bị từ chối vì việt vị - **Kỷ lục**: Chuỗi 27 trận bất bại (22 thắng, 5 hòa) của Việt Nam dưới thời HLV Kim Sang-sik — kỷ lục Đông Nam Á, vượt qua Thái Lan (21 trận, 1995-1996) - **Hệ quả**: Việt Nam không còn cơ vào chung kết, mục tiêu hiện tại là xếp thứ hai bảng B rồi tranh hạng ba - **Trận tiếp theo**: Việt Nam vs Pakistan, 2/10/2026, Jakarta - **Đội hình**: HLV Kim Sang-sik tung 5 cầu thủ tấn công cùng lúc (Hoàng Đức, Williams Minh Hoàng, Đỗ Hoàng Hên, Nguyễn Hải Long, Ngô Đăng Khoa) trong hiệp 2 **Nguồn**: VnExpress | **Ngày đăng**: 29/9/2026 | **Cross-checked**: VuaBong.vn **Câu hỏi liên quan**: 1. *ĐT Việt Nam còn cơ hội vào chung kết ASEAN Cup 2026 không?* — Không, sau trận thua Thái Lan, Việt Nam không còn cơ vào chung kết và phải cạnh tranh vị trí thứ hai bảng B. 2. *Kỷ lục 27 trận bất bại của Việt Nam có ý nghĩa gì?* — Đây là kỷ lục Đông Nam Á, vượt qua Thái Lan (21 trận), chứng minh giai đoạn thống trị khu vực kéo dài hai năm của Việt Nam. 3. *ĐT Việt Nam sẽ gặp đối thủ nào ở trận tranh hạng ba?* — Nhiều khả năng là Indonesia hoặc Malaysia (đội nhì bảng A), tùy thuộc vào kết quả bảng A. 4. *Vai trò của VAR trong trận đấu này?* — VAR đã từ chối bàn gỡ hòa của Tái Lộc phút 34 vì lỗi việt vị, ảnh hưởng trực tiếp đến kết quả trận đấu.
In the 90+4th minute, Chaiyaphon received a through ball and scored past Le Giang. The 2-0 scoreline was sealed, and Vietnam's 27-match unbeaten run — the Southeast Asian record — came to an end. But what's noteworthy isn't the late goal, but how it was engineered: a long ball that bypassed a high defensive line searching for an equalizer.
The match took place in Group B, Round 2 of the ASEAN Cup, just three days after facing the Philippines on September 26. With a congested schedule, Vietnam entered the match under pressure to win and keep their final hopes alive.
Context: Record and Pressure
Before the match, Vietnam held the record for 27 consecutive matches unbeaten (22 wins, 5 draws) under coach Kim Sang-sik. This surpassed Thailand's previous record of 21 matches (2026-2026). But 22 of those wins came against weaker regional opponents: Laos, Nepal, Cambodia, Timor-Leste, Bangladesh. The two most valuable wins — against Thailand in the 2026 AFF Cup final (2-1 and 3-2) — showed Vietnam could beat the region's strongest team, but also revealed the gap wasn't as large as the unbeaten run suggested.
Analysis: A Familiar Losing Script
This wasn't a structural collapse, but a defeat following the classic "chasing game" template:
- 10th minute: Thailand scored from a long-range shot after Adou Minh's failed clearance. Vietnam's defense exposed vulnerabilities early.
- 34th minute: Tai Loc scored an equalizer, but VAR disallowed it for offside. This was a crucial moment — had the goal stood, the match's momentum would have shifted entirely.
- Second half: Coach Kim Sang-sik introduced five attacking players simultaneously: Hoang Duc, Williams Minh Hoang, Do Hoang Hen, Nguyen Hai Long, Ngo Dang Khoa. This was an all-in attacking gamble.
- 51st minute: Thailand's free kick from approximately 23 meters hit the crossbar. Le Giang made an excellent save.
- 81st minute: Thailand's header forced another save from Le Giang.
- 90+4th minute: Chaiyaphon broke the offside trap, received a through ball, and scored to seal the 2-0 victory.
Lessons from the Second Goal
The 90+4th-minute goal wasn't an accident. It was the direct consequence of Vietnam pushing their defensive line high to search for an equalizer, leaving space behind. Chaiyaphon exploited this vulnerability precisely.
This is a familiar lesson in football: when a team trails and pushes forward, the defense becomes vulnerable to quick counter-attacks. Thailand prepared for this scenario, and they executed it perfectly.
The Record Still Stands
Despite the loss, Vietnam still holds the record for 27 matches unbeaten — the highest in Southeast Asia. Thailand ranks second with 21 matches, followed by Malaysia and Myanmar (15 matches), Singapore (14 matches), and Indonesia (11 matches).
This record wasn't erased by one defeat. It remains evidence of Vietnam's two-year period of regional dominance.
Consequences: A Shift in Objectives
After this loss, Vietnam can no longer reach the final. The current objective is to finish second in Group B, then face the Group A runner-up in a third-place playoff — likely Indonesia or Malaysia.
This is a significant downgrade from initial expectations. But in football, what matters isn't avoiding failure, but how you respond to it.
Next Match: Pakistan, October 2
The match against Pakistan in Jakarta will be decisive. If Vietnam wins, they'll secure second place in Group B and continue their tournament journey. A loss or draw could mean an early exit.
There will likely be significant squad rotation due to the congested schedule. But Vietnam's bench — with Hoang Duc, Hai Long, Dang Khoa — has the ability to make a difference.
Conclusion
Ending the 27-match unbeaten run isn't a disaster. It's a reminder that in football, nothing lasts forever. What matters is how Vietnam learns from this defeat and continues moving forward.
The 90+4th-minute goal is a lesson in defensive discipline, in maintaining structure even when trailing. This is a lesson Vietnam needs to remember for the upcoming matches.
The record still stands. But a record only matters if it leads to future successes. The match against Pakistan will show what Vietnam has learned from this defeat.