Defending champions Vietnam issued a statement of their intent at the ASEAN Hyundai Cupâą 2026 as Kim Sang-sikâs side secured a comprehensive 7-0 win over Timor-Leste in their Group A opener in Chonburi on Friday.
Nguyá» n ÄĂŹnh BáșŻc scored a hat-trick with Äá» HoĂ ng HĂȘn netting twice and Nguyá» n XuĂąn Son, the tournamentâs leading scorer in 2024, also on the scoresheet as the Golden Star Warriors laid down a marker to those attempting to challenge their position of regional supremacy.
Liam Farrugia put the ball into his own net as he tried to clear Nguyá» n Quang HáșŁiâs goal-bound strike to complete the scoring and add to the frustration of JosĂ© Pedroâs side.
It took the Vietnamese only seven minutes to go in front when ÄĂŹnh BáșŻcâs shot was blocked and HoĂ ng HĂȘn pounced on the rebound, turning to steer his left-foot shot beyond goalkeeper Dylan Niski.
Timor-Leste held out for another 24 minutes before Vietnam doubled their lead with ÄĂŹnh BáșŻc adding the second, the forward bending a classy finish into the bottom corner from just inside the area having been released by Nguyá» n HoĂ ng Äứcâs pass from deep.
Ten minutes later HoĂ ng HĂȘn claimed his second when the Timor-Leste defence failed to clear Nguyá» n VÄn VÄ©âs ball into the penalty area and the Brazil-born strikerâs persistence was rewarded with a decisive strike.
ÄĂŹnh BáșŻc poked in the fourth with two minutes left in the half and XuĂąn Son added the fifth a minute into stoppage time when he bundled VÄn VÄ©âs arcing cross from the left side of the penalty area over the line.
Timor-Leste were inches away from pulling one back in the 59th minute when Oatnasio da Silvaâs scuffed strike was deflected onto the left post of Patrik LĂȘ Giang but six minutes later the champions were further ahead.
Quang HáșŁi played a short corner to HoĂ ng HĂȘn and, while XuĂąn Sonâs attempted overhead kick went askew, the ball fell at the feet of BĂči HoĂ ng Viá»t Anh and he pulled his centre back from the byline for ÄĂŹnh BáșŻc to complete his hat-trick.
XuĂąn Son headed over the bar from six yards out as Vietnam sought a seventh and that goal eventually came with 11 minutes remaining when Quang HáșŁiâs strike was sliced over the line by Farrugia.
Alexandro Bahkito was inches away from a consolation for Timor-Leste in the 85th minute as he dragged his shot across the face of the Vietnamese goal. – aseanutdfc.com
