In an exciting match on October 2, Vietnam's national football team defeated Pakistan 4-2, securing their place in the third-place playoff of the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026. The standout player was Nguyễn Đình Bắc, who came off the bench to score one goal and provide two assists, significantly impacting the game's outcome.

The match took place at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta, where Vietnam faced a challenging first half. Despite being favored to win, they found themselves trailing after a miscommunication led to a goal by Pakistan's Mohib Ullah in the 31st minute. Vietnam struggled to find their rhythm in the first half, with missed opportunities and a lack of coordination among their forwards.

However, a tactical shift by head coach Kim Sang-sik during halftime proved crucial. He substituted Đình Bắc and Phan Tuấn Tài into the game, which revitalized the team's attack. Just five minutes into the second half, Tuấn Tài assisted Hai Long to equalize the score at 1-1.

Following that, Đình Bắc showcased his skills by drawing defenders and setting up Hoàng Đức for a second goal, putting Vietnam ahead 2-1. His influence continued as he scored a goal himself in the 80th minute, extending the lead to 3-1. Although Pakistan managed to pull one back late in the game, Đình Bắc's assist to Minh Hoàng in injury time sealed the victory at 4-2.

This win not only secured Vietnam's second place in Group B but also set them up for a crucial match against Malaysia in the third-place playoff on October 5. However, the victory came with concerns over injuries to key players Hoàng Hên and Việt Anh, who will need to be monitored ahead of the next match.

The final of the tournament will feature hosts Indonesia against Thailand, who topped Group B despite a loss to the Philippines in their final match.