ASEAN Cup 2026: Defending champion showcases power with a '7-star' victory

Not only did they secure all three points, but Coach Kim Sang Sik's team also sent a warning to their rivals with a convincing performance. What was noteworthy was not just the scoreline, but how Vietnam completely controlled the game, maintained a high attacking tempo, and showed variety in their approaches to the opponent's goal.

From the first minutes, Vietnam took the initiative by pushing high and pressing Timor-Leste in their own half. The constant pressure was soon rewarded with the opening goal by Do Hoang Hen in the 7th minute, after a quick opportunity in the penalty area.

The early goal made Coach Kim Sang Sik's players even more confident. In a completely dominant game, the midfield duo of Hoang Duc and Quang Hai repeatedly created passes that opened up spaces behind the opponent's defense. One of those led to Nguyen Dinh Bac breaking through to score the second goal in the 33rd minute.

The striker from Hanoi Police FC continued to be the standout figure in attack, completing a brace before halftime, then adding a third goal early in the second half to finish his first hat-trick at the ASEAN Cup 2026. It was a well-deserved reward for his energetic performance, intelligent movement, and efficient finishing.

Besides Dinh Bac, Do Hoang Hen and Nguyen Xuan Son also made their mark with goals, showcasing Vietnam's diverse attacking power as many players could directly make a difference. The remaining goal came from an own goal by defender Liam Farrugia after a curling shot from Nguyen Quang Hai in the 79th minute.

Notably, despite scoring five goals in the first half, Vietnam did not adopt a reckless approach after the break. Coach Kim Sang Sik proactively slowed the tempo, made several substitutions to preserve key players' energy, yet the team still maintained control and continuously applied pressure on the opponent's half.

On the other hand, Timor-Leste hardly created any significant chances. Their most dangerous moment came in the 59th minute when a shot by player number 23 deflected off Doan Van Hau's leg and hit the post of goalkeeper Patrik Le Giang's goal.

The emphatic victory over Timor-Leste gave Vietnam a favorable start in their title defense and a significant advantage in goal difference. More importantly, this performance showed that the team is gradually improving under Coach Kim Sang Sik, with a harmonious blend of experience from key players and youthful energy from new faces.

However, the real challenges still lie ahead. The two matches against Singapore and especially Indonesia will be crucial tests to accurately assess Vietnam's strength in their quest to win the Southeast Asian title for the fourth time in history.