Rafaelson returns to venue of mixed memories hungry to win ASEAN Championship again

The last time Vietnam took on Thailand, they would go on to lift the ASEAN Championship.

Two years on, both teams will once again contest the decider of Southeast Asia's premier international tournament.

Back in 2024, the Vietnamese claimed a crucial 2-1 advantage in the first leg at home but then went on to seal the title in decisive fashion -- as they beat Thailand 3-1 at Rajamangala Stadium for a 5-3 aggregate triumph.

This time around, the opening encounter will be held on Saturday in Bangkok, before the tournament finishes off with the second leg in Hanoi on Wednesday.

The last ASEAN Championship will always be remembered as the stage where Vietnam's star man Rafaelson announced his arrival on the international stage.

The Brazilian-born striker, who only gained Vietnamese citizenship -- and subsequent clearance to represent the national team -- on the eve of the tournament racked up seven goals to claim both the Most Valuable Player and Top Scorer awards.

Nonetheless, his memory of Vietnam's third ASEAN title will always be tarnished by a horrific leg fracture at Rajamangala Stadium -- which would lead to a ten-month road to recovery.

It has been an arduous journey but Rafaelson is well and truly back. Even though he has not needed to be as prolific this time around, he has popped up with goals when it truly matters -- as he did on Wednesday with both goals in his team's 2-0 semifinal second-leg win over Malaysia that secured a 4-0 aggregate triumph, having only come on as a 59th-minute substitute.

The 29-year-old is not going to allow himself to be bothered by memories of that mixed night in Bangkok. The only thing spurring him on is the chance to help Vietnam in their quest to successfully defend the title for the first time ever.

"Yes, I remember that time two years ago," Rafaelson said in Wednesday's post-match news conference, when asked if he has any message for Thailand ahead of the rematch. "We played in Thailand and became champions.

"Honestly, I don't have a message for anyone. I am here to help the national team and to give my best whenever I go onto the field.

"I just want to prepare myself, be in good condition, stay healthy and also help the team all the time.

"I am just one person, only one player here to help the team. Whether the coach wants me to play for 30 minutes or 90 minutes, I am ready to help the team."

Even though he has been left on the bench in two of Vietnam's six games, Rafaelson's brace on Wednesday has lifted him to joint-top on the scoring charts alongside teammate Nguyễn Đình Bắc.

When asked about their friendly competition for the Golden Boot, Vietnam coach Kim Sang-Sik -- whether genuine or in jest -- expressed surprise that Rafaelson had not scored more this time around.

"Xuân Son has scored only five goals?" Kim questioned, via an interpreter. "He should score more if we are going to become champions. I hope he can score a hat-trick in the final.

"Putting the goals aside, both Xuân Son and Đình Bắc have always played with great dedication for the team. Their commitment has helped us reach the final.

"We have many players like them in the squad. Every player is willing to sacrifice himself and give everything for the team, and I believe that is one of the reasons we have reached the final.

"In the final, I hope we can once again look forward to goals from Xuân Son and Đình Bắc.

"Two years ago, Vietnam won the championship at Rajamangala Stadium. It is a great honour and a source of happiness for us to reach the final once again, and have another opportunity to challenge for the title.

"Thailand played their semifinal [on Tuesday] while we played [on Wednesday], and we have only two days before the next match.

"The most important thing now is to help the players recover physically as quickly as possible and prepare properly for the away match against Thailand."

And when asked what he made of the current Thailand defence, having scored a pivotal double in the first leg of the 2024 final against a similarly-understrength opposition, Rafaelson was only focused on doing whatever it will take to taste regional success again.

"Honestly -- the tactics, we have the coach [for that]," Rafaelson added. "He will make the plan for the game, so I just want to follow the plan.

"It is a big final and Thailand also have a good team. We want to win this trophy.

"I just want to prepare myself, and also every player [should] prepare [and have a] good rest because we have a short time for rest.

"Let's see what happens, but everyone is hungry for this trophy. I also want to win this trophy again."