BANGKOK -- Three days after an inspired substitution led to the victory that sealed their place in the 2026 ASEAN Championship final, Vietnam coach Kim Sang-Sik pulled off another masterstroke as his side claimed a pivotal advantage in the decider -- with a 2-0 win over Thailand in Saturday's first leg at Rajamangala Stadium.
Not long after coming off the bench, Nguyễn Hai Long and Nguyễn Quang Hải got the second-half goals that handed the Vietnamese a crucial result ahead of Wednesday's return encounter in Hanoi -- and it now looks like it will take something special if the reigning champions are to be denied a fourth regional crown, and a first-ever successful title defence.
Once again, Kim deserves credit for some inspired changes -- as was the case back on Wednesday, when Rafaelson came off the bench to score twice in a 2-0 victory over Malaysia that sealed a 4-0 aggregate triumph in the semifinals.
As has been the case throughout the tournament, the South Korean tactician has not been afraid to tinker with his lineup. While Rafaelson was back in the starting XI, it was captain Quang Hải's turn to bide his time on the bench.
In a cagey start to the contest, Rafaelson loomed large early on as the visitors looked for him in almost every foray forward - although he was largely restricted to efforts from distance at the beginning, with Thailand centre-back Manuel Bihr in close attendance.
Instead, it was Thailand who arguably had the better chances in the opening exchanges.
Teerasak Poeiphimai had a clear sighting at goal charged down in the 20th minute, before Seksan Ratree had a spectacular 30-yard effort on the half-hour mark only kept out by the bar.
Vietnam did eventually find their rhythm but Nguyễn Đình Bắc would spurn a couple of decent opportunities -- first firing straight at Kampol Pathomakkakul from a narrow angle after being released down the left by Rafaelson, before completely scuffing an effort when he was picked out unmarked inside the area by a clever cut-back from Hêndrio.
For Thailand, plenty was going through the exciting Kakana Khamyok and a charge down the middle in the 36th minute -- which was initially halted -- eventually led to him winning possession back and creating a chance for Teerasak, whose ferocious left-footed effort was brillianty tipped over by Lê Giang Patrik.
Although they entered the tie as underdogs, even by the assessment of their own coach Anthony Hudson, Thailand certainly looked up for the challenge.
A brilliant counterattack in the 44th minute saw Yotsakorn Burapha blaze over while through on goal, before Teerasak somehow fired wide after taking the ball past Patrik just before halftime -- although a goal would have been ruled out for offside in any case.
Those missed chances by Thailand were always going to prove costly, and perhaps the only surprise was that they were punished by someone other than Rafaelson.
Having largely struggled to escape the clutches of Bihr, Rafaelson was replaced in the 58th minute. And it took the man who came on for him -- Hai Long -- just four minutes to break the deadlock.
Excellent target-man play by Đình Bắc, who took over Rafaelson's role as the focal point in attack, saw him run onto a long ball and strongly hold up play inside the box despite being confronted by Bihr -- before playing a cheeky backheel to find Hai Long, who latched onto the pass to drill a first-time shot into the bottom corner.
Seven minutes later, Vietnam's other substitute that came on just before the hour mark would score their second.
With another sweeping counterattack, it was Hai Long who led the charge forward on this occasion before switching play to the opposite flank.
Picking up possession, Hêndrio would advance to just inside the area before curling a delightful pass over the opposition defence to find captain Quang Hải -- who had ghosted into the box completely unnoticed to drill a fine volley past Kampol at his near post.
Nonetheless, Thailand were always going to give it their all to grab at least a lifeline -- and that was when Patrik came to the fore with some heroics that ultimately earned him the player-of-the-match honours.
Chaiyaphon Otton could not have struck the ball cleaner in the 71st minute when he found space on the edge of the area, only for Patrik to do well with a sprawling save after the ball had bounced awkwardly just in front of him.
With ten minutes remaining, another barnstorming charge through the middle by Kakana, who has really been one of Thailand's brightest lights at the tournament, looked to have opened things up -- only for an alert Trương Tiến Anh to race across to put in a crucial block as the trigger was about to be pulled.
And into stoppage time, the hosts looke destined to at least give themselves a lifeline by pulline one back when Waris Choolthong pounced on a bouncing ball and unleashed a dipping half-volley that was destined for the top corner -- only for Patrik to tip it away with a superb save.
The substitutes dealt the damage but their No. 1 then ensured Vietnam would hold on to their crucial aggregate advantage.
For them, becoming champions of Southeast Asia once more beckons at Mỹ Đình National Stadium on Wednesday -- following another masterstroke from Kim.