Naturalized striker Nguyen Xuan Son scored a brace to lead Vietnam to a 3-1 victory over Singapore in the second leg of their 2024 ASEAN Championship semifinal on Sunday night, securing the Vietnamese side’s spot in the final with a 5-1 aggregate score.

With nothing to lose after a 0-2 defeat in the first leg at home, Singapore came out aggressively from the start of the return game.

In the 11th minute, they nearly stunned the Vietnamese fans at Viet Tri Stadium in the northern Vietnamese province of Phu Tho when Faris Ramli scored from a throw-in on the right wing. 

However, the referee disallowed the goal. 

After reviewing the situation, the referee, assisted by VAR, confirmed the decision.

Vietnam then had a goal disallowed in the 21st minute when Chau Ngoc Quang’s header found the net, but the referee ruled he had fouled a Singaporean defender, without needing a VAR check. 

In the 37th minute, Nguyen Hai Long’s free kick hit the top edge of the crossbar, but the referee reviewed the play and awarded Vietnam a penalty after Nguyen Xuan Son was fouled in the box. 

Brazilian-born Son converted the penalty in first-half stoppage time, giving Vietnam a 1-0 lead.

In the 63rd minute, Nguyen Hoang Duc dribbled past two defenders and crossed the ball for Xuan Son to tap in, making it 2-0 and extending his lead as the tournament’s top scorer with five goals.

This goal effectively shattered Singapore’s hopes, as Vietnam were leading by four goals on aggregate at that moment.

Singapore managed to net a consolation goal in the 74th minute through a brilliant long-range shot by Kyoga Nakamura, reducing the deficit to 1-2 in the second leg and 1-4 overall.

In the second added minute, Vietnam were awarded a penalty after Nguyen Van Vi was fouled in the box.

Forward Nguyen Tien Linh sealed the win with a successful conversion, making the final score 3-1 and securing Vietnam’s 5-1 aggregate victory to advance to the finale.

The Vietnamese side were awarded VND1.5 billion (US$58,927) after the triumph and is now awaiting the outcome of the remaining semifinal second leg between the Philippines and Thailand, set to take place at Rajamangala National Stadium in Bangkok on Monday evening.

The Philippines defeated the Thais 2-1 in the first leg at Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila last Friday.

The 2024 ASEAN Championship, also known as the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup, kicked off on December 8, with the two-legged, home-and-away final scheduled for January 2 and 5.

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