Vietnamese football and its 'absolutely cinematic' performances at Rajamangala in 2025

Rajamangala is an emblem of Thai football power. But ironically, the place known as the 'Thai holy ground' turned into the venue where Vietnamese football twice created the most thrilling masterpieces in 2025.

Two finals, two 3-2 comeback wins, twice leaving the home fans stunned into silence. Most importantly, these were two stories rich with cinematic elements—complete with climaxes, twists, disputes, and finishing moments.

Act 1: A dramatic, action-movie-like performance in the 2024 ASEAN Championship final

In January 2025, during the second leg of the ASEAN Championship (the new AFF Cup), the Vietnamese team traveled to Rajamangala under significant pressure. Their 2-1 victory in Viet Tri was not a large advantage, and key striker Nguyen Xuan Son was absent due to injury. The match was already expected to be tense, but what unfolded went far beyond any usual scenario.

At Rajamangala, Tuan Hai scored early in the 8th minute. However, that goal struck a nerve with the Thai side. They surged forward, applying pressure and equalized in the 28th minute thanks to Ben Davis after a shaky play by Doan Ngoc Tan.