Even without Tai Loc, the Vietnamese national team's attack still possesses a formidable 'trident'.

Despite Timor-Leste being a relatively weak opponent, the Vietnamese team's 7-0 win in the ASEAN Cup 2026 opener provided plenty of encouraging signs, with coach Kim Sang-sik apparently having formed a strike force that can create an impact.

Vietnam's national team started the 2026 ASEAN Cup like a dream with Dinh Bac, Hoang Hen, and Xuan Son.

Six of Vietnam's seven goals were scored by three players: Dinh Bac, Hoang Hen, and Xuan Son. Dinh Bac shone with a hat-trick, and also provided an assist for Quang Hai's seventh goal. If the referee hadn't raised the offside flag in a controversial situation late in the game, the number 9 striker could have ended the day with four goals. Meanwhile, Hoang Hen scored a composed brace, while Xuan Son continued to prove his worth with a goal and numerous hold-up plays, drawing defenders and creating space for his teammates.

Notably, these three players did not operate as individuals. They constantly swapped positions, played one-touch combinations, and created a connection that made Timor-Leste's defense almost unable to keep up. Dinh Bac often cut inside from the left flank, Hoang Hen moved intelligently to exploit spaces behind Xuan Son, while the naturalized center-forward acted as a focal point, holding up the ball and stretching the opponent's defensive system. It was an organized attacking structure, rather than relying on a single star's moment of brilliance, as Vietnam had often done in the past.

The numbers also clearly reflect that dominance. According to post-match statistics, the Vietnamese team generated an expected goals (xG) of up to 4.50, while Timor-Leste only managed 1.00. Coach Kim Sang-sik fired 10 shots on target, while the opponent did not have a single attempt that forced Patrik Le Giang to make a save. This shows that Vietnam not only scored many goals due to the gap in class, but also consistently created genuine high-quality chances.

Another notable detail is that this explosion occurred while Nguyen Tai Loc is still unable to return due to injury and still needs more time to integrate after recovery. Before the tournament, many opinions suggested that the absence of the naturalized striker would weaken Vietnam's attacking power. But the match in Chonburi showed the opposite. Kim Sang-sik did not try to find a replacement for Tai Loc, but built a more flexible attacking system where many players can score and create breakthroughs. It is this diversity that makes it difficult for opponents to deal with.

Of course, caution is still needed after such a big win against a much weaker opponent. Timor-Leste is not a strong enough test to confirm that Vietnam's attack has reached the top level in the region. The matches against Singapore or Indonesia will truly show how effective the trio of Dinh Bac, Hoang Hen, and Xuan Son can be against better-organized defenses.

Besides, coach Kim Sang-sik also recognized a problem that needs to be addressed from the group stage. Hoang Hen showed signs of pain at the end of the match and was immediately substituted to rest, making way for Nguyen Tran Viet Cuong. That was a reasonable decision given the dense schedule of the ASEAN Cup. If they want to go far and defend the title, Vietnam not only needs a sharp attack but also must maintain the best physical condition for their key players.

In fact, what gives fans hope is not the seven goals, but the way they were created. Dinh Bac is entering the most mature phase of his career, Hoang Hen is increasingly proving he deserves a starting spot, and Xuan Son remains one of the most complete strikers in the region. When Tai Loc fully recovers to add depth to the squad, Kim Sang-sik will have more options for rotation and variation.

The victory over Timor-Leste not only brought the first three points in the journey to defend the Southeast Asian crown. More importantly, it opened up the belief that the Vietnamese national team possesses a forward line that knows how to score through collective connection. And in modern football, that is always a more sustainable foundation than relying on an exceptional individual.