Vietnam Rally Past Pakistan 4-2 but Finish Fourth at the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup

Vietnam produced an impressive comeback to defeat Pakistan 4-2 in their final Group B match of the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup on October 2 in Indonesia. Goals from Nguyen Hai Long, Nguyen Hoang Duc, Nguyen Dinh Bac and Williams Minh Hoang helped head coach Kim Sang-sik's team finish second in the group and qualify for the third-place playoff against Malaysia. However, a 1-0 defeat to Malaysia on October 5 meant Vietnam finished fourth overall.

An inconsistent first-half performance

The match against Pakistan was important for Vietnam's hopes of improving their position at the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup. Before kickoff, Kim Sang-sik's side needed a positive result to secure a place in the third-place playoff. However, Vietnam struggled against Pakistan's physical approach, aggressive challenges and compact defensive organization.

According to the Vietnam Football Federation, Vietnam enjoyed 64% possession in the first half and attempted 10 shots, but only 2 were on target. These figures reflected the team's advantage in possession while also highlighting the limited effectiveness of its attacking play.

Pakistan adopted a deep defensive shape, reduced the available space in central areas and waited for opportunities to counterattack. This approach disrupted Vietnam's combinations. Final passes lacked accuracy, while the attacking players struggled to find suitable spaces around the opposition penalty area.

Vietnam's opening concession followed a defensive error. Mohib Ullah capitalized on a breakdown in the defensive organization, went through on goal and beat goalkeeper Le Giang Patrik to give Pakistan the lead. The incident demonstrated how Vietnam could be exposed when possession was lost and the defensive structure was not restored quickly enough.

The goal also increased the pressure on Vietnam. The team had to commit more players forward, allowing Pakistan to maintain its counterattacking threat. Controlling possession did not automatically translate into complete control of the dangerous moments in the match.

Second-half changes turn the match around

The turning point came after the interval, when Kim Sang-sik made personnel changes to improve the team's pace and attacking creativity. Nguyen Dinh Bac and Phan Tuan Tai were introduced, making Vietnam more dynamic in wide areas. The team continued to control possession while applying greater pressure on Pakistan's defensive line.

Nguyen Hai Long started the comeback. Following a pass from Phan Tuan Tai, the midfielder found space, controlled the ball and finished accurately to make it 1-1. The equalizer helped relieve the pressure on Vietnam and allowed the team to continue its attacking approach with greater confidence.

Only a few minutes later, Vietnam completed the turnaround. Nguyen Dinh Bac showed his individual ability on the left flank before delivering a pass for Nguyen Hoang Duc, who advanced and finished to put Vietnam ahead 2-1. The move highlighted the importance of midfield runners and their ability to exploit spaces behind the opposition midfield.

Vietnam continued to apply pressure. As Pakistan pushed forward in search of an equalizer, spaces appeared behind its defensive line. This created opportunities for Vietnam to use its pace and transition quickly into attack.

In the 80th minute, Nguyen Dinh Bac produced an effective individual move inside the penalty area and scored Vietnam's third goal. His contribution demonstrated his ability to create attacking opportunities while giving the team a more comfortable advantage.

Pakistan refused to give up. A long-range effort helped the South Asian side reduce the deficit to 3-2. The second concession again raised questions about Vietnam's defensive concentration, particularly after the team had established a relatively comfortable lead.

Vietnam quickly restored its two-goal advantage. Nguyen Dinh Bac provided another assist, allowing Williams Minh Hoang to finish during stoppage time. The goal sealed the 4-2 victory and marked Williams Minh Hoang's first goal for the Vietnam national team.

Positive attacking signs and remaining tactical concerns

The victory demonstrated Vietnam's ability to adjust its approach and improve attacking effectiveness after halftime. The introduction of Nguyen Dinh Bac and Phan Tuan Tai improved the team's ability to attack through the flanks. Meanwhile, Nguyen Hai Long and Nguyen Hoang Duc showed how midfield players could contribute to scoring opportunities rather than relying exclusively on a traditional centre-forward.

Nguyen Dinh Bac was among the most influential players in the match. He scored a goal and contributed assists to important attacking moves. His acceleration, close control and ability to exploit spaces behind defenders make him an important attacking option in Kim Sang-sik's system.

Nguyen Hai Long also demonstrated his value through his movement between the opposition lines. His timing when entering the penalty area provided Vietnam with an additional attacking option. Nguyen Hoang Duc continued to connect midfield and attack while demonstrating his finishing ability from promising positions.

Nevertheless, a 4-2 victory did not represent a flawless performance. Vietnam conceded twice, including a goal following a defensive organizational error and another opportunity allowed late in the match. These issues require careful assessment before facing opponents who can transition quickly and convert their chances more efficiently.

Vietnam also need to turn possession into more consistent attacking dominance. The 64% possession figure in the first half, combined with only 2 shots on target from 10 attempts, indicated that the team needed to improve its final-third execution. Passing combinations, ball circulation and the quality of decisive deliveries remain important areas for development.

Malaysia defeat ends Vietnam's hopes of a bronze medal

Following the victory over Pakistan, Vietnam faced Malaysia in the third-place playoff on October 5, 2026, at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta. The match represented an opportunity to finish the competition with a positive result.

According to the Vietnam Football Federation, Vietnam faced personnel difficulties because several players were affected by injuries or physical fatigue following a demanding schedule at club and international level. Nevertheless, Kim Sang-sik's players started proactively, created early pressure and maintained a relatively strong share of possession.

However, the same problems with final execution remained. Vietnam created opportunities through Nguyen Hai Long, Nguyen Hoang Duc and players operating in wide areas, but failed to convert them. Malaysia made better use of an important opportunity when Fertgus scored in the 62nd minute to establish a 1-0 lead.

Vietnam increased the pressure in search of an equalizer. Several incidents involving potential penalty decisions were reviewed using VAR, but the referee did not award a penalty in Vietnam's favor. Late attempts by Viet Anh and Thanh Long also failed to produce a goal.

The 1-0 defeat left Vietnam in fourth place overall at the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup. The comeback against Pakistan provided positive signs about the team's mentality and tactical adjustments, but it was not enough to resolve the broader problems exposed throughout the competition.

Looking ahead to the 2027 Asian Cup

For Kim Sang-sik, the tournament provided valuable opportunities to evaluate squad depth, tactical adaptability and consistency across different positions. The performances of Nguyen Dinh Bac, Nguyen Hai Long, Nguyen Hoang Duc and Williams Minh Hoang give the coaching staff several options to consider during future international camps.

Vietnam's main challenge remains finding the right balance between attacking and defending. The team must maintain its ability to control possession while improving its defensive transitions, positional cover and concentration during decisive moments. Finishing also needs to become more effective so that the team does not depend on second-half comebacks.

Vietnam's next major objective is preparation for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, scheduled to take place in January 2027. The experience gained in Indonesia will be useful in refining the squad and tactical approach. Rather than focusing exclusively on the 4-2 victory over Pakistan, the coaching staff must assess both the positive performances and the weaknesses exposed against Malaysia.

The 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup ended with Vietnam in fourth place. Although this was not the result the team wanted, the performances of emerging players and the ability to change the course of a match offered some encouraging signs. Kim Sang-sik's next challenge is to turn those signs into consistent performances and improve Vietnam's competitiveness at continental level.