Football fever lights up Vietnam after regional success

Vietnam end drought to be crowned southeast Asian champions

Victory continues boom period for Vietnamese football AFF Cup marked by massive crowds across the region

Car horns, fireworks, national flags and football chants. It may sound like Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro or Rome but in fact it was Hanoi on Saturday night, as Vietnam’s capital celebrated the end to a decade-long wait for international silverware.

Vietnam triumphed in dramatic fashion with a 3-2 aggregate scoreline against Malaysia, amid a raucous and colourful crowd at the My Dinh Stadium. It was a fitting finale to the AFF Cup, the biennial southeast showpiece, a tournament which rarely fails to deliver on or off the field.

Make no mistake, this is a tournament that truly captures the imagination of a region featuring well over half a billion inhabitants. The two-legged final drew some 130,000 spectators, highlighted by an 88,000 crowd at Kuala Lumpur’s famed Bukit Jalil stadium. The average crowd during the course of the five-week home-and-away ten-nation tournament was just shy of 30,000.

Victory highlights a period of unprecedented success for Vietnamese football. Coach Park Hangseo led the nation to a recent semi-final appearance at the Asian Games, and the U-23 team to the AFC U-23 Asian Cup final. Just over 12 months ago, Vietnam made their debut at the FIFA U-20 World Cup.

Watch how ?? claimed victory as #AFFSuzukiCup18 champions after a well taken volley by Nguyen Anh Duc! #TimeToShine #VIEvMAS

Match Report: https://t.co/Q1MXLhcfXT pic.twitter.com/C2Nw4r10Xs

â€” AFF Suzuki Cup (@affsuzukicup) December 15, 2018

It was a milestone tournament in many ways. Malaysia’s elimination of Thailand at the semi-final stage meant the War Elephants failed to feature in the decider for only the second time since 2005. Meanwhile, regular contenders Singapore and Indonesia failed to progress from the group stage.

2018 AFF Cup
Champions: Vietnam (second title)
Runners-up: Malaysia
Semi-finalists: Thailand, Philippines
Group stage: Myanmar, Singapore, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Timor-Leste

2018 AFF Suzuki Cup

Vietnam's players celebrate at the end of the AFF Suzuki Cup 2018 semi-final against Philippines

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07 Dec 2018

Vietnam's players celebrate at the end of the second leg of the AFF Suzuki Cup 2018 semifinal football match between Vietnam and the Philippines at the My Dinh Stadium in Hanoi on December 6, 2018. / AFP / Manan VATSYAYANA

Nguyen Quang Hai of Vietnam shoots during the AFF Suzuki Cup final second leg against Malaysia

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17 Dec 2018

HANOI, VIETNAM - DECEMBER 15: Nguyen Quang Hai of Vietnam shoots during the AFF Suzuki Cup final second leg match between Vietnam and Malaysia at Muy Dinh National Stadium on December 15, 2018 in Hanoi, Vietnam. (Photo by Stanley Chou/Getty Images)

Pham Duc Huy#15 of Vietnam celebrates with team-mates after scoring in the AFF Suzuki Cup final against Malaysia

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14 Dec 2018

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - DECEMBER 11: Pham Duc Huy#15 of Vietnam celebrates with his team-mates after scoring their 2nd goal during the AFF Suzuki Cup final first leg match between Malaysia and Vietnam at Bukit Jalil National Stadium on December 11, 2018 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Photo by Stanley Chou/Getty Images)

Syahmi Safari #4 of Malaysia (3rd L) celebrates scoring his side's goal with team-mates during the AFF Suzuki Cup semi-final second leg match against Thailand

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06 Dec 2018

BANGKOK, THAILAND - DECEMBER 05: Syahmi Safari #4 of Malaysia (3rd L) celebrates scoring his side's goal with his team mates during the AFF Suzuki Cup semi final second leg match between Thailand and Malaysia at Rajamangala Stadium on December 5, 2018 in Bangkok, Thailand. (Photo by Pakawich Damrongkiattisak/Getty Images)

Thailand players celebrate Thitiphan Puangjan's goal during the AFF Suzuki Cup semi-final second leg against Malaysia

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06 Dec 2018

BANGKOK, THAILAND - DECEMBER 05: Thailand players celebrate Thitiphan Puangjan's goal during the AFF Suzuki Cup semi final second leg match between Thailand and Malaysia at Rajamangala Stadium on December 5, 2018 in Bangkok, Thailand. (Photo by Pakawich Damrongkiattisak/Getty Images)

Malaysia and Thailand players enter the field for the 2018 AFF Suzuki Cup semi-final between Malaysia and Thailand at Bukit Jalil National Stadium

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05 Dec 2018

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - DECEMBER 01: Malaysia and Thailand players enter the field during the AFF Suzuki Cup semi final between Malaysia and Thailand at Bukit Jalil National Stadium on December 01, 2018 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Photo by Stanley Chou/Getty Images)

Nguyen Anh Duc of Vietnam celebrates with Nguyen Quang Hai after scoring in the AFF Suzuki Cup final

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17 Dec 2018

HANOI, VIETNAM - DECEMBER 15: Nguyen Anh Duc of Vietnam celebrates with Nguyen Quang Hai after scoring their1st goal during the AFF Suzuki Cup final second leg match between Vietnam and Malaysia at Muy Dinh National Stadium on December 15, 2018 in Hanoi, Vietnam. (Photo by Stanley Chou/Getty Images)

Vietnam's players celebrate at the end of the AFF Suzuki Cup 2018 semi-final against Philippines

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07 Dec 2018

A Thailand fan during the 2018 AFF Suzuki Cup semi-final between Malaysia and Thailand at Bukit Jalil National Stadium

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05 Dec 2018

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - DECEMBER 01: A Thai fan cheers during the AFF Suzuki Cup semi final between Malaysia and Thailand at Bukit Jalil National Stadium on December 01, 2018 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Photo by Stanley Chou/Getty Images)

Vietnam celebrate with the 2018 AFF Suzuki Cup

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17 Dec 2018

HANOI, VIETNAM - DECEMBER 15: Vietnam players celebrate with the Suzuki Cup after they defeated Malaysia 1-0 during the AFF Suzuki Cup final second leg match between Vietnam and Malaysia at Muy Dinh National Stadium on December 15, 2018 in Hanoi, Vietnam. (Photo by Stanley Chou/Getty Images)

Sanrawat Dechmitr of Thailand runs with the ball during the 2018 AFF Suzuki Cup semi-final between Malaysia and Thailand

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05 Dec 2018

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - DECEMBER 01: Sanrawat Dechmitr of Thailand runs with the ball during the AFF Suzuki Cup semi final between Malaysia and Thailand at Bukit Jalil National Stadium on December 01, 2018 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Photo by Stanley Chou/Getty Images)

Malaysia players celebrate Safawi Rasid's goal against Vietnam in the AFF Suzuki Cup final first leg

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14 Dec 2018

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - DECEMBER 11: Malaysian players celebrate Safawi Rasid 2nd goal against Vietnam during the AFF Suzuki Cup final first leg match between Malaysia and Vietnam at Bukit Jalil National Stadium on December 11, 2018 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Photo by Stanley Chou/Getty Images)

Malaysia players celebrate after the AFF Suzuki Cup semi-final second leg match against Thailand

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06 Dec 2018

BANGKOK, THAILAND - DECEMBER 05: Malaysia players and staff celebrate after the AFF Suzuki Cup semi final second leg match between Thailand and Malaysia at Rajamangala Stadium on December 5, 2018 in Bangkok, Thailand. (Photo by Pakawich Damrongkiattisak/Getty Images)

Timor Leste midfielder Filomeno Junior da Costa (R) fights for the ball with Philippines' midfielder Iain Ramsay

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06 Dec 2018

Timor Leste's midfielder Filomeno Junior da Costa (R) fights for the ball with Philippines' midfielder Iain Ramsay during the AFF Suzuki Cup 2018 football match between East Timor and the Philippines at the Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium in Kuala Lumpur on November 17, 2018. / AFP / Mohd RASFAN

Philippines' James Younghusband (centre) vies for the ball with Singapore players

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06 Dec 2018

James Younghusband (C,white jersey) vies for the ball with Singaporean players during their Zuzuki Cup football match in Bacolod City, central Philippines on November 13, 2018. Sven-Goran Eriksson began his Philippines reign with a win as his Azkals beat Singapore 1-0 in a Suzuki Cup group match at home on November 13. / AFP / ANDY ALVAREZ

Philippines' head coach Sven-Goran Eriksson (2L) stands with team officials

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06 Dec 2018

Philippines' head coach Sven-Goran Eriksson (2L) stands with team officials and players prior to the Suzuki Cup football match between Philippines and Singapore at the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City, central Philippines on November 13, 2018. Eriksson began his Philippines reign with a win as his Azkals beat Singapore 1-0 in a Suzuki Cup group match at home on November 13. / AFP / ANDY ALVAREZ

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Talking points
Trio impress ahead of continental campaign
Vietnam, Thailand and Philippines will all feature in next month’s expanded AFC Asian Cup. Philippines enjoyed a solid tournament reaching their fourth semi-final in five attempts, but breakthrough qualification for the final again eluded them after a hard-fought 4-2 aggregate semi-final defeat against Vietnam. UAE 2019 will be their maiden continental tournament, while Vietnam have qualified for the first time, other than as hosts or as South Vietnam.

Big name coaches
The AFF Cup was marked by the tournament debut of two charismatic coaches, albeit at either end of their respective journeys. Japan icon Keisuke Honda took charge of Cambodia, though only for a brief period when playing commitments at Melbourne Victory permitted. Swede Sven-Goran Eriksson commenced a new chapter in his much-travelled career leading Philippines ahead of next month’s Asian Cup debut.

The highs and lows of a striker
Thailand star forward Adisak Kraisorn netted eight times during the tournament to comfortably finish as the tournament’s leading scorer. Yet his tournament ended in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons, after missing an injury-time penalty that would have put his side into the final at Malaysia’s expense. Nguyen Anh Duc, however, carved his name into the annals of Vietnamese football alongside 2008 hero Le Cong Vinh, by scoring the winner in the final.