Timor Leste 0-7 Vietnam Highlights: Dinh Bac and Hoang Hen Shine; A Great Mental Boost for the Vietnam National Team

Vietnam easily beat Timor Leste 7-0 in the ASEAN Cup 2026 opener. It serves as an excellent preparation for Kim Sang-sik's squad. Dinh Bac and Hoang Hen were exceptional.

A one-sided game for Vietnam

Vietnam could not have asked for a more impressive start in Group A of the ASEAN Cup 2026, thrashing Timor Leste 7-0.

The opponent was too weak, so the victory may not accurately reflect the true form of the Vietnamese players, but we have achieved a perfect springboard for the next match.

With their superior class, Vietnamese players applied constant pressure, maintained a high pressing intensity, moved the ball flexibly, and effectively exploited the flanks to stretch the opponent's defense.

The combinations between Hoang Duc, Quang Hai, Van Vi, and Xuan Son made the team's play varied, leaving Timor Leste with almost no chance to organize counterattacks.

Scoring five goals in the first half alone showed a huge gap in quality between the two sides. Despite making several substitutions in the second half, Vietnam maintained their attacking rhythm and added two more goals to seal the 7-0 victory.

The "rain" of goals against Timor Leste gave Vietnam a significant advantage in goal difference, a crucial factor in the race for top spot in the group.

Dinh Bac Shines Bright

In a well-balanced team, Dinh Bac deservedly stood out as the star of the match. The young striker constantly disrupted the Timor Leste defense with his speed, skill, and confident handling.

From the very first minutes, he created a series of dangerous chances before scoring three consecutive goals to complete an impressive hat-trick. With this hat-trick, Dinh Bac etched his name into Vietnam's history at the ASEAN Cup, becoming the player with the most goals in an opening match.

Not only did he score, Dinh Bac also contributed greatly to the overall play. He frequently moved wide, creating space for Xuan Son and the midfielders to make runs and finish.

His energetic play kept the Timor Leste defense constantly on the back foot. The assist for Quang Hai to make it 7-0 also demonstrated Dinh Bac's team spirit and excellent vision.

Alongside Dinh Bac, several other key players also made their mark. Quang Hai continued to show his leadership with his ability to control the game, while Hoang Duc demonstrated his class with passes that created scoring opportunities.

Although Xuan Son only scored once, he was very active, constantly holding up the ball and drawing defenders. The brilliance of many individuals gave Coach Kim Sang-sik more quality options and created healthy competition within the squad.

A good warm-up for Vietnam

The 7-0 victory over Timor Leste was not only significant in terms of the scoreline but also provided a huge morale boost for the Vietnam team.

A convincing performance in the opening match gives the players more confidence ahead of tougher challenges, especially the direct clashes with rivals in Group A.

What pleased fans was that Vietnam showed no signs of complacency despite leading by a large margin. The whole team maintained focus, continuously organized attacks, and created more dangerous chances.

That serious competitive spirit reflects the philosophy Coach Kim Sang-sik is building: always aiming for initiative, imposing the game, and constantly improving effectiveness in every play.

Of course, Timor Leste was not a strong enough test to fully assess Vietnam's strength. The team still had moments of defensive lapses and allowed the opponent to create a few notable chances in the second half.

However, overall, this performance is a very positive signal. With the attack scoring seven goals, many players in top form, and an upbeat atmosphere in the whole team, Vietnam has had an ideal preparation for the next stage of the ASEAN Cup 2026.