CAHN and 120 minutes of an unfulfilled dream.

The 120 minutes at Chang Arena witnessed a rollercoaster of emotions in the second leg of the Southeast Asian Cup final between CAHN and Buriram United.

CAHN "held the gold but let it slip away" in the final match against Buriram United - Photo: CAHN .

At Chang Arena, under torrential rain and the immense pressure from over 20,000 Buriram United fans, the CAHN players entered the second leg of the final with the mindset of warriors. They knew that the journey to winning the Southeast Asian Cup would not be a bed of roses. 90 minutes, or even longer, would be the greatest measure of the character and the dream of Vietnamese football reaching new heights.

Holding onto gold but letting it slip away...

From the very first minutes, CAHN showed they hadn't come to Thailand to settle for a draw. On the contrary, Mano Poling's team entered the match with confidence and determination, as if ready to bring the Cup back to Hanoi .

In the 15th minute, Nguyen Quang Hai, carrying both the expectations and responsibility of a star player, made his mark with a skillful backheel pass, creating space for Cao Pendant Quang Vinh to surge forward. The cool, sophisticated finish from the defender of Vietnamese and French descent put the visitors ahead, silencing the cheers in the Chang Arena stands.

Then, Leo Artur's penalty goal in the 39th minute was likened to a beacon of glory; it brought the Police team so close to victory.

In the stands, a small group of Vietnamese fans began to dream. On the pitch, the players held their heads high and played proactive, solid football. And goalkeeper Nguyen Filip, having a brilliant day, repeatedly denied shots from Buriram United's strikers.

CAHN lost to Buriram United in a penalty shootout at Chang Arena. Photo: CAHN .

But that's football, there are always unpredictable twists and turns. No matter how much Nguyen Filip defended in front of goal, he couldn't stop the coming storm. Three consecutive goals helped Buriram United turn the tide.

The pressure mounted, the rain continued to fall heavily, the pitch was slippery and wet, and legs were starting to ache. But the warriors' spirit never wavered.

Extra time saw another resurgence from the Vietnamese team. Alan, after a decisive run, scored against Buriram United to equalize the score at 3-3 (aggregate 5-5). Hope was rekindled.

On the bench, the CAHN players held hands tightly. On the field, Nguyen Filip continued to make spectacular saves to withstand the pressure created by the home team.

By taking the match to a penalty shootout, CAHN achieved the seemingly impossible. Nguyen Filip even saved two shots from the home team.

But meanwhile, his teammates lacked composure. Three times the ball missed the net, and three times the fans' hearts ached. Buriram United's decisive penalty kick ended the Vietnamese team's dream of winning the championship. Sadly, the dream was just one goal away from becoming reality. CAHN lost 2-3 in the tense penalty shootout. Tears of regret streamed down the players' faces.

Hold your head high, and look toward your goals.

That being said, CAHN didn't fail because they played poorly, but because football always has room for cruel twists of fate. 120 minutes in Thailand was a true battle, a battle both physically and mentally.

CAHN took the lead, were overturned, equalized, and fought to the very end. No great achievement comes easily. Although they didn't bring the cup back to Vietnam, the CAHN players can still leave Chang Arena with their heads held high, where they left behind all their sweat, tears, and hearts.

This defeat is not the end, but a stepping stone for CAHN to aim for bigger goals. They will return to the V.League, the National Cup, and most importantly, they now understand they have the strength to compete on the continental stage. This is the long-term direction that the team's management has outlined since returning to the V.League in 2023.

Coach Polking and his team finished as runners-up in the Southeast Asian Cup - Photo: CAHN.

CAHN possesses squad depth, strong teamwork, and a blend of seasoned experience and youthful enthusiasm. Furthermore, they have a team that isn't afraid of failure, is willing to learn, and strives for improvement.

Chang Arena closed in the rain on the night of May 21st. But in that rain, there were not only tears, but also hope. The unfulfilled dream will be the motivation for CAHN to return stronger. Because in football, no one is defeated forever if they don't give up.

We may lose today, but if we maintain the spirit we showed in Buriram, one day the Southeast Asian Cup will belong to CAHN.

Source: https://znews.vn/cahn-va-120-phut-cua-giac-mo-dang-do-post1554708.html