Vietnam faces injury setbacks ahead of ASEAN Cup final

Defender Ho Tan Tai may have suffered a serious injury during the second leg of the ASEAN Cup semifinals on December 29th at Viet Tri Stadium. In the final minutes of added time against Singapore, Tan Tai landed awkwardly after trying to receive a cross from Van Vi on the left wing. He fell to the ground in clear pain, clutching his leg. Medical staff quickly attended to him and carried him off the field on a stretcher.

While the full extent of Tan Tai's injury remains unclear, the fact that he couldn’t stand or walk off the field suggests it could be a significant issue. There are concerns that he may have

Unfortunately, Tan Tai wasn’t the only defensive casualty for Vietnam during the match. Both full-backs, Xuan Manh and Van Thanh, also had to leave the field early due to injuries. The intense match schedule of the ASEAN Cup has started to take its toll on Vietnam’s squad depth.

Looking ahead, the first leg of the final is scheduled for January 2nd, where the two strongest teams of the 2024 ASEAN Cup will face off. The return leg will be held on January 5th, where the champion of the tournament will be crowned.