SEA Games 33 men’s football final: Vietnam U22 stage an impressive comeback to claim the gold medal
U22 Thailand sent Vietnamese fans’ hearts racing after taking a two-goal lead. However, when pushed to the brink, U22 Vietnam responded in unbelievable fashion, fighting back to equalize before securing victory in extra time. This dreamlike triumph saw Kim Sang Sik’s side bring home the prestigious gold medal for the Vietnam Sports Delegation.
19/12/2025 11:43:40
U22 Vietnam named the same starting lineup as in the semifinal, while Thailand made several changes, most notably the inclusion of Kamyok Kakana in midfield. Despite playing on home soil, Thailand adopted a slow tempo, almost as if they were the underdogs. This allowed U22 Vietnam to enjoy greater initiative in the opening 15 minutes, but Thailand’s defensive system, marshalled by captain and center-back Rartree Seksan, kept their goal secure, even though a few mistakes did allow Kim Sang Sik’s side to win possession inside the penalty area on occasion.
Kamyok Kakana made a significant difference for the hosts. The central midfielder displayed excellent control of the game and dictated the tempo effectively. Thailand were particularly dangerous from direct free kicks just outside the penalty area, and with a deadly set-piece specialist in their ranks, the U22 Thai side deliberately looked to earn fouls in these situations.
In the 19th minute, Quốc Cường committed a foul right on the edge of the box after Kamyok Kakana’s dribble. Burapha Yotsakon once again showcased his superb free-kick ability with a curling strike into the far post, leaving goalkeeper Trung Kiên helpless.
The opening goal affected U22 Vietnam psychologically, as they began to lose composure and play more hesitantly. The defensive line became less cohesive against Thailand’s fast, powerful and direct attacks. In a lightning-quick counterattack in the 31st minute, center-back Rartree Seksan surged forward to latch onto the ball before firing a low shot to score the second goal for U22 Thailand.
Vietnam U22’s most notable attacking moment before the end of the first half came from a header by Viktor Lê that narrowly missed the post in the closing minutes. That effort was also his only real contribution before he was substituted at the start of the second half, making way for Thanh Nhàn.
Almost immediately after coming on, Thanh Nhàn made his mark with a through pass that sent Đình Bắc into the penalty area, forcing goalkeeper Phosoman Sorawat to commit a foul and concede a penalty. Đình Bắc made no mistake from the spot, pulling one goal back for Vietnam early in the second half.
The goal acted as a catalyst, boosting Vietnam U22’s confidence, while Thailand U22 appeared increasingly unsettled. This contrast in mentality led to the equalizer as Vietnam made it 2-2 from a corner kick, with Lý Đức applying heavy pressure that forced Wairs into an own goal.
Six minutes later, Xuân Bắc fired a shot from close range, just three metres out, but was denied by goalkeeper Phosoman Sorawat. In the 71st minute, Hiểu Minh left the Thai keeper rooted to the spot with a close-range header, only for the ball to crash against the post. Nhật Minh and Thanh Nhàn then had further clear chances but were unable to convert, sending the match into extra time.
In the 95th minute, Thanh Nhàn arrived to tap in from point-blank range, giving Vietnam U22 the lead for the first time — a goal that ultimately decided the match. This incredible comeback against Thailand earned Vietnam U22 the SEA Games 33 gold medal for the Vietnam Sports Delegation.
