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Ha Thi Mai, mother of forward Tien Linh, applauds as the team scores the second goal. Photo by VnExpress/Phuoc Tuan. |
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Fans celebrate Do Hung Dung's goal at his home in Hanoi's Gia Lam District. Photo by VnExpress/Tat Dinh. |
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Do Huy Toan, father of midfielder Do Hung Dung, cheers as his son scores and puts Vietnam 2-0 ahead. Photo by VnExpress/Tat Dinh. |
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Fans scream in elation on Nguyen Hue Street in HCMC as Vietnam scores a goal. Photo by VnExpress/Huu Khoa. |
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A fan leaps for joy in Hanoi's Hoan Kiem District after Vietnam scores the first goal in the SEA Games final against Indonesia. Photo by VnExpress/Dinh Tung. |
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More foreigners show their support for the Vietnamese team, sporting the national flag on their cheeks as they watch the final on Nguyen Hue Street in HCMC.. Photo by VnExpress/Huu Khoa. |
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A fan dresses up to cheer up the Vietnam team at Nguyen Hue Street. Photo by VnExpress/Huu Khoa. |
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Ecleland, an American tourist, is supporting Vietnam on Bui Vien Street, a backpacker hangout in HCMC. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran. |
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An ardent fan uses a stainless steel tray as a gong on Nguyen Hue Street in HCMC. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy. |
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A big crowd of fans at the Hanoi Medical University in Hanoi's Dong Da District. They have covered the school's football field with a gigantic national flag. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy. |
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A foreigner supports the Vietnam team at Nguyen Hue Street. Photo by VnExpress/Huu Khoa. |
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Fans gather at the Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street in HCMC hours ahead of the SEA Games final football match between Vietnam and Indonesia. Photo by VnExpress/Huu Khoa. |
Vietnam will play Indonesia in the final of the SEA Games men's football tournament in the Philippines today at 7 p.m. (Hanoi time). The match will be reported live.
Nearly two hours before the game, thousands of fans wearing colorful wigs, headbands and red T-shirts with the golden star have gathered at Nguyen Hue pedestrian street in downtown HCMC to watch the game live on huge screens. Streets surrounding Nguyen Hue are lined with stalls selling vuvuzela plastics horns, headbands and flags.
Vendor Nguyen Thu Ha, 50, said she has been in position since two in the afternoon and believes the Vietnamese team will be crowned champions.
Le Thai Son, a 28-year-old fan, said he and a group of 12 other supporters will say on Nguyen Hue Street throughout the match to support the Vietnamese team. "I bet Vietnam will beat Indonesia 2-0," he said.
At the Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Primary School in HCMC's Go Vap District, more than 200 students dressed in the red T-shirts with the golden star have gathered to support their football heroes.
Vietnam have never won a gold medal in men's football at the SEA Games, and this is the first time in ten years that they have made it to the final.
Vietnam topped their group in emphatic fashion, fighting from 0-2 down in their last group-stage match against arch rivals Thailand on December 5. The defending champions were knocked out of the tournament and Vietnam beat Cambodia 4-0 in the semifinals to enter the finals.
Last night and this morning, thousands of Vietnamese flew to the Philippines on one-day tours to support their team in the final match.
