Player Nham Manh Dung (No 17 jersey) and his teammates celebrate the goal. Photo: VOV

In the evening of May 22, after an intense match with Thailand, U23 team Vietnam won SEA Games men's football final in My Dinh stadium, successfully defended their SEA Games gold medal.

The only goal from striker Nham Manh Dung's beautiful header in the 83rd minute helped U23 Vietnam narrowly defeat the Thais, winning the second SEA Games men's football gold medal in a row.

My Dinh stadium was packed with spectators donning red T-shirts and red headbands and waving red flags in support of their home team. President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, and National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue were in the crowd cheering players playing spectacular football in a breathtaking final match.

Coach Park said goodbye to U23 Vietnam after the 31st SEA Games final

Coach Park Hang-seo’s U23 Vietnam is the only team unbeaten in SEA Games 31 with five wins and one draw, scored 11 goals and did not concede a goal.

“This SEA Games means a lot to me. Three years ago, me and the U23 Vietnam team won the first gold medal in 60 years. This time the tournament was held in Vietnam, the audience waited a lot, so I felt a sense of accomplishment. The players have tried their best. This is my last game with the team. I have been under a lot of stress lately. I thank the Government, people, agencies, all the people. Maybe the coaching staff did a good job with the players,” coach Park Hang-seo said in the press conference room.

After this match, Coach Park Hang-seo will officially bid farewell to U23 Vietnam, hand it over to coach Gong Oh-kyun, and focus on the national team.

Coach Park Hang-seo in the press conference before the World Cup qualifier between Vietnam and Saudi Arabia, Hanoi, November 15, 2021. Photo: VnExpress

Dinh The Nam will take charge of the U23 Vietnam national team at the 2022 U23 AFF Cup in Cambodia, replacing Park Hang–seo to allow the Korean more time to focus on the first team.

The Vietnamese women's team on the podium receive the gold medal. Photo: VGP/Dinh Nam

On May 21, Vietnam women's football team, who played their best, devoted themselves, united, and promoted the collective spirit, also successfully defended their SEA Games champion title for the third time in a row.

The Vietnamese players defeated the Thais 1-0 in the final match of 31st Southeast Asian Games in Cam Pha stadium, winning the gold medal, their 7th SEA Games’ gold medal so far.

In his letter sent to the female players, President Phuc also thanked football fans who enthusiastically cheered the athletes with their love of sport and national pride, so that the "red-jersey female warriors" have brought glory to the Fatherland, joy for fans and the pride of Vietnamese women's football.

The dramatic final at SEA Games between Vietnam and Thailand drew more than 16,000 spectators in Cam Pha stadium, Quang Ninh province, on Saturday. The game’s turning point was seen in the 59th minute in the second half, when captain Huynh Nhu scored a goal for Vietnam.

Though Thailand launched many attacks to seek a leveling goal, Vietnamese players made all-out efforts to keep their precious goal safe. Finally, with the 1-0 victory, the Vietnam women's football won the championship.

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