Thailand’s football team celebrates winning the AFF Cup final football match against Vietnam at Thammasat Stadium in Bangkok on January 16, 2023. (Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP)
Thailand secured its second successive AFF Cup trophy Monday, seeing off a poor Vietnam side 1-0 in the second leg of the final to cement its status as the leading force in Southeast Asian football.
A fierce first-half drive from captain Theerathorn Bunmathan was enough to win in a scrappy encounter in Bangkok, played under the watchful eye of FIFA supremo Gianni Infantino.
Theerathorn and Peeradol Chamrasamee effortlessly controlled the center for Thailand, leaving 2018 winners Vietnam chasing shadows for much of the match.
Without the full-throated support of the crowd it enjoyed in the first leg in Hanoi, Vietnam struggled to repeat the spirited performance that saw them scrape a 2-2 draw.
The 3-2 aggregate win gave Thailand its seventh AFF trophy — a record — and means it has successfully defended the title on three separate occasions.
Theerathorn’s 24th-minute goal was the fruit of patient build-up play through the midfield, as Vietnam hung ever further back.
After a string of passes, lively number nine Adisak Kraisorn — a thorn in Vietnam’s side all evening — laid the ball off as Theerathorn arrived at pace, took a touch and unleashed a ferocious shot into the bottom corner from 25 meters.
The goal rattled Vietnam, which shed what little cohesion it had shown and almost lost its head, flying into rash tackles as the first half closed.
But it was the defending champions who ended the match a man short as Peeradol received a second caution in injury time.
Thai coach Mano Polking admitted it was not a “beautiful” performance but praised the professionalism shown by his team.
“All credit to the players — they did a fantastic job,” he said.
Thailand has now won the AFF Cup seven times, well clear of its closest rivals Singapore, on four.