Vietnam XI awaits Philippines-Thailand winner

MANILA, Philippines — Familiar foe Vietnam will stand in the way should the Philippines take care of business against holder Thailand last night and reach the Asean Mitsubishi Electric Cup finals for the first time.

The Vietnamese beat Singapore in the second leg of their semifinal duel at the Viet Tri Stadium Sunday night, 3-1, to win the two-game dispute on goal aggregate, 5-1.

Nguyen Xuan Son, who sealed their 2-0 away victory in Leg 1, opened scoring from the spot in the first minute of first-half stoppage time then doubled it lead with a 63rd minute strike.

Kyoga Nakamura pushed the Lions one back in the 74th before Nguyen Tien Linh iced it with an injury-time penalty.

The Golden Star Warriors, champions in 2008 and 2018 and runner-up in 2022, now await the victor between the Filipinos, whom they previously played to a 1-1 draw in Manila in Group B, and the War Elephants.

The Pinoy booters took a 2-1 upperhand against the three-peat-seeking Thais after an unforgettable result in Leg 1 last Friday in Manila.

They sought to complete their takedown of the seven-time titlists with a draw or a win in last night’s crunch match in Bangkok.

Vietnam is set to host the first leg of the championship on Jan. 2 in Viet Tri City before the two-leg series swings to its opponent’s turf three nights later.