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The win secured Vietnam’s first three points in Group B, with both goals coming from Nguyen Dinh Bac. Khampane Douangvilay scored the lone goal for Laos.
Vietnam dominated possession and chances, but faced a resilient Laos team that employed a solid low-block defense, making for a challenging opener for the defending champions.
The match started cautiously, with Vietnam gradually increasing pressure, earning three corner kicks within the first 10 minutes. The team's first clear chance came in the 26th minute when Nguyen Dinh Bac forced a diving save from goalkeeper Lokphathip after a header.
Vietnam finally broke the deadlock in the 29th minute from a fast counter-attack. Minh Phuc sprinted down the right flank and passed into the box; Keeper Lokphathip failed to handle the ball, allowing Dinh Bac to easily slot it into the empty net for the opener.
However, the lead was short-lived. Laos responded almost instantly in the 32nd minute. From a corner kick, the ball hit the bar and fell to Khampane Douangvilay, who quickly finished at close range to equalize.
The half saw one substitution due to injury, with Nguyen Xuan Bac leaving the field for Nguyen Thai Quoc Cuong. Despite several Vietnamese attempts, including a brilliantly blocked tap-in by Thanh Nhan, the first half ended level at 1-1.
The second half began without substitutions, with Laos maintaining their tight defensive structure. Vietnam continued to press, creating several close calls, including a blocked tap-in attempt by Nguyen Quoc Viet in the 50th minute.
The decisive moment arrived in the 60th minute, shrouded in controversy. Dinh Bac scored what appeared to be a stunning second goal after dribbling past two defenders and firing into the left corner. However, the referee initially waved off the goal, ruling offside as Quoc Viet was deemed to be obstructing the keeper’s view.
Following intense protests from the Vietnamese players, the referee reversed his decision after a three-minute argument, recognizing the goal and putting Vietnam ahead 2-1. Both coaches received yellow cards for their strong reactions: Coach Kim Sang-sik for Vietnam and Coach Ha Hyeok-jun for Laos, who opposed the reversal.
Vietnam sought to extend their lead, with Dinh Bac narrowly missing a hat-trick from a free kick outside the box in the 75th minute. Laos did not give up, creating a dangerous opportunity in the 80th minute when Douangvilay broke the offside trap and faced the Vietnamese keeper, but his shot lacked the power to beat Tran Trung Kien.
Vietnam made several substitutions to manage the game, but the tension remained high until the final whistle. In the 90th minute, Laos player Peeter Phanthavong was booked for diving while attempting to earn a penalty. After five minutes of added time, the match ended 2-1.
SEA Games 33: Laos 1-2 Vietnam
