Legendary striker Lê Công Vinh reveals how his 2008 title-winning goal transformed Vietnamese football and ended a fear of regional rivals Thailand.
LEGENDARY striker Lê Công Vinh believes Vietnam’s dramatic 2008 ASEAN Championship victory fundamentally changed the nation’s footballing destiny.
The former forward, whose iconic injury-time header secured Vietnam’s first regional title against Thailand, described the win as a pivotal cathartic moment that erased 12 years of pain from a final loss to Singapore in 1998.
“In 1998, when Vietnam lost the final to Singapore, I was only 13 years old. I watched that match on TV and I cried a lot,” Công Vinh recalled of the heartbreaking 1-0 defeat.
He admitted the pressure was immense ahead of the 2008 final against a strong Thai side, especially with the second leg being played in Bangkok.
The striker was the hero across both legs, scoring Vietnam’s second in a 2-1 first-leg win in Thailand before delivering his legendary last-gasp winner in Hanoi.
“At that moment, I couldn’t hear anything. My hands were shaking. For a few seconds, everything went black,” he said of the goal, a clever flick from a Nguy?n Minh Phuong free-kick that looped over the Thai goalkeeper.
“After about 10 seconds, I realised what had happened. I couldn’t believe that Vietnam had won the title. It was very meaningful and unforgettable.”
Công Vinh stated the victory had a profound and far-reaching impact, breaking a psychological barrier and fostering a new generation of confidence.
“Since the beginning, whenever Vietnam played against Thailand, we usually drew or lost. But in 2008, that was the turning point. Vietnam won the title against Thailand, and after that, Vietnam were no longer afraid of Thailand,” he explained.
He emphasised that football is the undisputed king of sports in Vietnam, with the 2008 triumph creating a new history and leading to increased government investment in the sport’s development.
The success also propelled Công Vinh’s own career onto the global stage, facilitating moves to clubs in Portugal and Japan.
Vietnam have since cemented their status as a regional powerhouse, winning the ASEAN Championship twice more, including the most recent 2024 title where they again defeated Thailand.
As defending champions, Vietnam will face a tough Group A in the upcoming ASEAN Hyundai Cup™ 2026, drawn against Singapore, Indonesia, Cambodia, and either Timor-Leste or Brunei.
Công Vinh warned that defending the title is more difficult than winning it, identifying a strengthened Indonesia as a major threat alongside traditional rivals Thailand.
Looking beyond the regional stage, the legend called for Southeast Asian teams to set their sights higher on continental AFC competitions and even the FIFA World Cup.
The ASEAN Hyundai Cup™ 2026 is scheduled to be played from July 24 to August 26, with Vietnam aiming to continue the legacy that Công Vinh’s famous header began 18 years ago.
The Sun Malaysia
