Vietnam secured first place in Group A of the 2026 ASEAN Cup following a commanding 3-1 win against Cambodia at My Dinh Stadium in Hanoi on August 7, advancing to the tournament's semi-final stage with 10 points accumulated across four matches. The hosts capitalised on their strength at home, controlling the match's tempo from the outset and establishing dominance that ultimately proved decisive despite a spirited Cambodian comeback attempt.
The home side's approach from the opening whistle centred on possession-based football designed to dictate the contest. Vietnamese players moved the ball deliberately across the width of the pitch and pressed forward with coordinated attacking movements on both flanks, seeking to exploit Cambodia's defensive structure. This tactical intent reflected their objective to secure the group title outright, which would provide momentum and familiarity in semi-final preparation.
Cambodia, however, arrived at My Dinh with a clear counter-attacking blueprint. The visitors demonstrated threat through quick transitions, evidenced most notably in the 14th minute when Samuel Bong intercepted possession high up the field and raced clear against goalkeeper Patrik Le Giang, only to squander the opportunity with a poor finish. This miss represented Cambodia's most promising early chance and foreshadowed their inability to capitalise on limited openings.
Vietnam broke the deadlock in the 18th minute through midfielder Nguyen Dinh Bac, whose incisive run through the centre culminated in a precisely executed low drive past Cambodia's keeper Koy Salim. The goal energised the home support and reinforced Vietnam's control, allowing coach Kim Sang-sik's team to maintain relentless pressure. Cambodia retreated into a compact defensive shape and absorbed Vietnamese pressure through the remainder of the first half, which concluded with the hosts holding a single-goal advantage.
The second period began with Vietnam maintaining their pressing intensity and creating numerous opportunities. This pattern persisted until the 71st minute, when Cambodia produced an unexpected equaliser. Brazilian-born forward Iago Bento latched onto a direct long ball and outpaced Vietnamese defender Pham Xuan Manh before finishing clinically past Le Giang to restore parity at 1-1, a moment that suggested a genuine comeback possibility.
Vietnam restored their lead in the 84th minute through an unfortunate defensive incident. Nguyen Xuan Son broke into the penalty area and his shot forced defender Im Vakhim into an ill-judged clearance attempt, the ball deflecting into his own net to restore Vietnam's advantage at 2-1. This fortuitous goal proved psychologically significant, as Cambodia's hopes of forcing extra time evaporated.
Dinh Bac sealed the victory in the 90th minute plus two seconds when he collected possession during a swift Vietnamese counter-attack and executed a clinical finish past Koy Salim to complete a personal brace and confirm Vietnam's 3-1 triumph. With the final whistle, coach Kim Sang-sik's squad had secured maximum points from their Group A campaign, finishing with three victories and one draw for a total of 10 points.
Singapore advanced from Group A as runners-up following a 1-1 stalemate against Indonesia, confirming both nations' elimination while the Lions progressed alongside Vietnam to the semi-final stage. The two Group A winners will await their semi-final opponents determined through the concluding Group B fixtures scheduled for August 8 at 8pm, when Thailand confront Myanmar and Malaysia faced the Philippines.
Thailand held the advantage in Group B with nine points from three consecutive victories, positioning themselves as genuine contenders for the tournament's latter stages. Malaysia occupied second place with six points, whilst Myanmar also held six points but sat third due to an inferior head-to-head differential. These Group B teams face do-or-die matches to secure semi-final qualification and determine which sides will ultimately face Vietnam and Singapore in the knockout rounds. The tournament structure ensures competitive intensity through its final group phase matches, with Malaysian supporters closely monitoring their national team's prospects in what remains a competitive Southeast Asian championship contested by the region's strongest football nations.
