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The Golden Dragons claimed a thrilling aggregate win over Thailand in the 2024 ASEAN Championship final, with a 5-3 victory across the two legs. The first match, hosted in Vietnam’s Phu Tho Province, ended 2-1 to the home team. In the return game at Bangkok’s Rajamangala Stadium, Vietnam struck early. A swift counter-attack from a free kick in their own half saw Pham Tuan Hai break free and delicately chip the ball over the Thai goalkeeper to give Vietnam an eighth-minute lead. Pham Tuan Hai wheels away in celebration after scoring in the second leg of the 2024 ASEAN Championship final. His goal gave Vietnam an early lead over Thailand. Image credit: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre Thailand responded with a quick break of their own in the 24th minute, but Nguyen Thanh Chung’s well-timed tackle halted Supachok Sarachat’s progress. However, just minutes later, Vietnam’s defense was breached. A long-range strike from Ben Davis beat the goalkeeper, leveling the score at 1-1. ...

Ho Chi Minh City police detained Le Sy Manh, a former Vietnamese international footballer, for assaulting a referee during an amateur tournament. The incident, which occurred on December 22, 2024, sparked outrage as a video of Manh’s violent reaction to receiving a red card went viral. Manh, a member of the Thanh Hoa City senior team, lashed out at referee Pham Van Nguyen after being shown a yellow card for a foul. He slapped the referee and was subsequently shown a red card, leading to an even more aggressive response. Manh kicked and punched Nguyen, with the entire incident being captured on camera and shared widely across social media platforms. Born in 1984 in Thanh Hoa Province, Manh represented Vietnam from 2009 to 2010. Throughout his club career, he played for prominent teams such as Hanoi T&T, Vissai Ninh Binh, FLC Thanh Hoa, Quang Nam, Xuan Thanh Sai Gon, and Hai Phong. The Ho Chi Minh City Police’s swift action in detaining Manh sends a strong message about their comm...

The Vietnamese team fed off the energy of their passionate home crowd and started the game with intense aggression, dominating the first 15 minutes. Their relentless attacks created a flurry of opportunities, with Thailand’s goal under constant threat. An early chance fell to Bui Vi Hao in the third minute, as he rose highest for a close-range header that, unfortunately, sailed over the bar. Naturalized striker Xuan Son, of Brazilian origin, and winger Vu Van Thanh also tried their luck, but their efforts lacked the accuracy needed to break the deadlock. Thailand slowly regained their composure and started to find their rhythm, but Vietnam’s solid defensive line, led by a calm and composed backline, thwarted any meaningful attempts. The hosts continued to create chances and kept the Thai team on the back foot. In the second half, head coach Kim Sang Sik introduced playmaker Nguyen Quang Hai, which proved to be a masterstroke. Vietnam immediately looked more assured in possession...

On January 5, Vietnam clinched their third ASEAN Cup title with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Thailand at Bangkok’s Rajamangala Stadium. The match was an exhilarating display of footballing prowess and determination by both teams. Vietnamese players and coaching staff celebrate their third ASEAN Cup triumph. Photo: Ngoc Tu/The Hanoi Times Vietnam drew first blood in the 8th minute through a skillful finish by striker Pham Tuan Hai. Thailand, however, responded strongly with two goals from Ben Davis in the 28th minute and Supachok Sarachat in the 64th, turning the game around to lead 2-1. Controversy arose when Thailand’s second goal was scored after Vietnam had put the ball out of play to attend to an injured player, expecting a return of possession from their opponents. Striker Pham Tuan Hai (number 10) celebrates his opening goal. Photo: Ngoc Tu/The Hanoi Times The match took another turn in the 75th minute when Thai player Weerathep Pomphan received hi...

Thep Xanh Nam Dinh secured their spot in the knockout stage of the tournament with a dominant 3-0 win over Lee Man on Wednesday. With this victory, they have booked their place in the next round and currently sit at 11 points. It was a fast-paced start for the home team, who quickly overwhelmed their opponents. Despite a few missed chances early on, midfielder Lucas Silva broke the deadlock with a clinical finish from just outside the penalty area in the 12th minute. The hosts then settled into a comfortable rhythm and controlled the tempo of the game. Lee Man struggled to build meaningful attacks and couldn’t find a way past Thep Xanh Nam Dinh’s solid defense. In the 29th minute, confusion in Lee Man’s defense allowed Nguyen Van Vi to set up To Van Vu, who scored the second goal for the home team. Just before halftime, striker Nguyen Xuan Son converted a penalty, giving Thep Xanh Nam Dinh a comfortable 3-0 lead going into the break. A thrilling moment in the match between ...

In 2014, the VFF and JFA embarked on a journey of mutual growth and cultural exchange by signing their first cooperation agreement. This decade-long partnership has yielded significant fruits, with the JFA providing invaluable support to its Vietnamese counterpart. One of the key strengths of this collaboration has been the introduction of seasoned experts. Notable figures include Miura Toshiya, who led the U23 and national teams with prowess; Tanabe Kazuyoshi, the executive director of the V.League, brought invaluable insights to the table. Yusuke Adachi and Takeshi Koshida, as technical directors, left a lasting impact on the VFF, and Ijiri Akira’s guidance of the U19 and U20 women’s teams was exceptional. The JFA has also facilitated numerous training and competition opportunities for Vietnamese teams in Japan, fostering growth and exposure. Additionally, their initiatives to develop grassroots football in Vietnam have sown the seeds for a brighter future. Building on this strong...

The highly anticipated ‘sports trial of the century’ in British media has commenced, with a three-person commission meticulously examining volumes of evidence over an estimated 10-week period. The verdict, expected before the end of the current season, will conclude a lengthy process that began with referrals in February 2023, involving charges dating back to 2009. At the center of this trial is the renowned football club, City, boasting a remarkable record of four consecutive English title wins. The club has vehemently denied any wrongdoing, maintaining their innocence throughout the process. However, the potential consequences are significant. If found guilty on any of the charges, City could face a range of penalties, including hefty fines, points deductions, or even demotion from the Premier League. Such an outcome would cast a shadow over their recent successes, raising questions about the legitimacy of their achievements. Since 2008, when Sheikh Mansour’s Abu Dhabi United Grou...

Japan Cruise to Victory Over China in World Cup Qualifier Wataru Endo and Kaoru Mitoma gave Japan a comfortable lead in their Group C clash against China, setting the tone for a dominant performance. Endo opened the scoring in the 12th minute, capitalizing on a corner opportunity after Chinese goalkeeper Wang Dalei denied Ritsu Doan’s header moments earlier. The Liverpool midfielder, unmarked on the play, made no mistake with a clinical header off a well-placed ball from Takefusa Kubo. Japan continued to press and create chances. Doan came close to adding a second in the 33rd minute, and Hidemasa Morita hit the side-netting just before halftime. Kaoru Mitoma, just before the break, doubled the lead with a clever header, meeting Doan’s curling center and leaving Wang helpless. The second half saw Japan continue to assert their dominance. Takumi Minamino, set free by Mitoma’s pass, extended their lead in the 52nd minute with a beautiful strike that beat Wang. Minamino secured his brac...

In a recent football match between Colombia and Uruguay in Charlotte, North Carolina, tensions escalated beyond the pitch. Soon after Colombia secured a 1-0 victory, social media erupted with videos depicting an unexpected turn of events. The footage revealed Uruguay players, including Darwin Nunez and Ronald Araujo, climbing into the stands and engaging in physical altercations with opposing fans. Captain Jose Maria Gimenez asserted that the players’ intentions were to protect their families from harm. However, the unrest didn’t end there. A post-match confrontation on the field involved players and staff from both teams, adding fuel to the fiery conclusion of the game. CONMEBOL, the governing body of South American football, has launched an investigation into the disturbing events. In a statement released on Thursday, they affirmed their zero-tolerance policy towards any acts that mar the spirit of the beautiful game: “We are committed to getting to the bottom of this incident an...