Hudson Disappointed But Determined After Thailand's 0-2 AFF Cup Loss
Thailand coach Anthony Hudson said his team deserved better in a 0-2 AFF Cup final loss to Vietnam at home but remains determined for the second leg in Hanoi on August 26, where Thailand must win by at least two goals.
Thailand national team coach Anthony Hudson expressed disappointment with the first leg of the AFF Championship final but remained determined ahead of the second match in Hanoi. In the first leg on August 22 at Rajamangala Stadium, Thailand lost 0-2 at home to Vietnam. The second leg will take place on August 26 at Mỹ Đình Stadium in Hanoi, where Thailand must win by at least 2 goals to force extra time, or win 3-0 to capture their eighth championship title.
After the match, English coach Anthony Hudson stated: "First, I have to say I'm disappointed with the result. We deserved a better outcome given the chances we had, and it's not surprising that Vietnam's goalkeeper was the standout player. But I'm still proud of the players and coaching staff. We still have an opportunity in the second match in Hanoi."
When asked about Vietnam's substitution, Hudson said he was not surprised, explaining that the two players have different playing styles. "The game isn't over yet because we still have a match waiting in Hanoi, so both teams still have a chance to be the winner. Most of the substitutions came down to fitness, which will be evident on the pitch. I'm very pleased that many young players have been able to step up and play with the senior squad."
Hudson praised the youth contingent in the final: "Playing in a championship final with seven players aged 23 or younger is something I'm very proud of. Personally, I may regret that many should have had better fitness. If our players were fitter, I believe the result would have been different. But we gave everything we had in today's match."
Regarding the second leg at Mỹ Đình Stadium in Hanoi, Hudson remarked: "If I hadn't spoken with the players after the match, I would have already bought a ticket home. But we still have one more game to play. If we score the first goal in the second match, the atmosphere will definitely change. Now we need to recover the players' bodies as quickly as possible, because I believe we still have a chance to come back and win in the next match."
