Hanoi, Aug. 22 -- Vietnam have made an almost perfect step towards successfully defending their ASEAN Cup title after securing a convincing 2-0 victory over Thailand in the first leg of the final at Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok on August 22. As expected, the first half was a tightly contested affair, with Vietnam adopting a disciplined defensive approach, maintaining compact lines and engaging the hosts in fierce midfield battles. Both sides created opportunities, but neither could find the breakthrough before the interval. The pace quickened after the restart as Thailand showed an early determination to capitalise on home advantage and find a goal as quickly as possible. Just over 10 minutes into the second half, head coach Kim Sang-si...