Bangkok: The Thai football team lost to Vietnam 2-3, finishing with a silver medal and missing out on the 2025 SEA Games men’s football championship. The Thai men’s national football team lost to Vietnam 2-3 in extra time, settling for only a silver medal. This missed opportunity to win the gold medal in men’s football as hosts of the SEA Games marks their first win in 50 years, since 1975.
According to Thai News Agency, the 2025 SEA Games men’s football final was held at Rajamangala National Stadium, with 16-time champions Thailand, wearing blue jerseys, facing three-time champions Vietnam. In this game, “Coach Wang” Thawatchai Damrongongtrakul, the head coach of the Thai national team, fielded “Mix” Yosakorn Burapha, who has already scored 6 goals and leads the scoring charts, as the main striker. The midfield was led by Seksan Ratree and Kakana Khamyok. Meanwhile, Vietnam was led by their star player, Nguyen Dinh Bac, who had already scored 2 goals.
Thailand dominated possession from the start and took a 1-0 lead in the 20th minute with a free-kick from their star striker, Yosakorn Burapha. This was Yosakorn’s 7th goal of the tournament, and three of them were from free kicks. Then, in the 31st minute, the Thai team scored their second goal from a quick counter-attack. Seksan Ratree, the team captain, dribbled and shot with his left foot into the post. At the end of the first half, Thailand led Vietnam 2-0.
Two minutes into the second half, Vietnam penetrated the penalty area and were awarded a penalty when Nguyen Dinh Bac broke through and was fouled by Thailand’s goalkeeper, Sarawat Pothisaman. Nguyen Dinh Bac stepped up and converted the penalty, making the score 1-2. In the 60th minute, the Golden Star team won a corner kick, and Pham Lai Duc charged the ball into the net, leveling the score at 2-2.
After 90 minutes, the score was tied 2-2, requiring an additional 30 minutes of extra time. In extra time, in the 95th minute, Nguyen Thanh Nan scored from close range to give Vietnam a 3-2 lead, which proved to be the winning goal, securing a 3-2 victory over Thailand and their fourth championship title. While the Thai national team only managed to win a silver medal for the third consecutive time, and missed out on a gold medal in men’s football as hosts for the first time in 50 years since 1975.