Vietnam strengthened their bid for a place at the 2027 AFC Asian Cup with a professional 2–0 victory over Laos in Vientiane, a result that showcased both their growing maturity under head coach Kim Sang-sik and the encouraging evolution of their hosts.

On a warm evening in the Lao capital, the opening 45 minutes offered little in the way of drama. Both sides approached the contest with caution: Vietnam monopolised possession without forcing the breakthrough, while Laos maintained admirable discipline in their defensive structure. The stalemate, however, proved merely the calm before Vietnam’s second-half stride.

After the interval, Kim’s side raised the tempo and asserted themselves with a level of clarity that has become increasingly familiar during his tenure. Two well-worked goals — one from the spot and a second capitalising on a rare goalkeeping error — settled the match and reflected the sharper decision-making Vietnam produced once they sensed vulnerability.

Kim, speaking afterwards, praised the players for adjusting the rhythm of the match:
“Things didn’t flow as we hoped in the first half, but the boys recognised the moment after the break and controlled the game themselves. You can see the team stabilising step by step, and tonight was another reminder of that.”

Laos show their progress despite defeat

For Laos, defeat stung but did not overshadow a display that hinted at genuine progress. Under Ha Hyuk-jun, the side has shed its reputation as a purely reactive, defence-first outfit. Here, they pressed assertively in midfield, broke with purpose when opportunities arose, and frustrated Vietnam throughout the first period.

A handful of swift counter-attacks stretched the visiting defence, while the home side’s compact shape forced Vietnam into patient, often sideways play. Though the second half ultimately unravelled — a conceded penalty followed by an avoidable second goal — the broader performance suggested a team developing in structure, bravery and balance.

Ha chose to focus on the positives even as he lamented the result.
“The scoreline disappoints us, of course,” he said. “But the concentration and attitude were excellent. With more experience, this group will become much stronger.”

Vietnam take control of Group F; Laos search for a spark

Victory puts Vietnam in a commanding position in Group F, giving them a platform from which to challenge firmly for top spot as the qualifying campaign enters its decisive stretch. Their tactical organisation, clearer positional roles and ability to lift their level after half-time all underline the trajectory Kim has been shaping since his arrival.

Laos, meanwhile, remain alive in the race but will require a decisive uptick in results to keep their qualification dream intact. Even so, their recent performances — including this resilient display for large stretches — testify to a side growing in confidence and structure.

With the group stage now moving into its latter stages, both teams face divergent pathways: Vietnam looking upwards with justified assurance, Laos building patiently toward a more competitive future.

In Vientiane, those realities were laid out plainly — one team tightening its grip on qualification, the other proving that progress sometimes hides within the margins of defeat.