Viet Nam have in all to do in the second leg of the AFF Cup semi-final, after losing 2-0 to Thailand in the first bout at the Singapore National Stadium on Thursday evening.

GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST: Viet Nam suffered a humbling 2-0 defeat to Thailand on Thursday evening in the AFF Cup. — Photo VNA/VNS The Vu

Coach Park Hang-seo sprang one major surprise with his team selection, giving pacy forward Nguyen Van Toan his first start of the tournament.

On a pitch in poor condition, the match started with Thailand taking the initiative, their rapid passing leaving Viet Nam's defenders on the back foot.

Viet Nam conceded their first goal of the tournament in the 13^th minute, when Thailand's star player Chanathip Songkrasin took advantage of a slip in defence by Nguyen Phong Hong Duy and got to the ball before the onrushing Vietnamese goalkeeper Tran Nguyen Manh.

Shellshocked, Viet Nam were 2-0 down just 10 minutes later after a display of scintillating passing football gave Chanathip a sight of goal. The Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo made no mistake and slotted home.

Viet Nam almost pulled a goal back in the 33^rd minute when Nguyen Quang Hai shot from range with a free-kick, but the ball crashed off the post and flew to safety.

The Vietnamese had a decent shout for a Thai red card in the waning minutes of the opening period when goalkeeper Chatchai Budprom took down the onrushing Van Toan miles out of his goal, but the referee only brandished yellow.

Coach Park brought on attackers Nguyen Tien Linh, Ha Duc Chinh and Phan Van Duc in a bid to get back into the game.

Chances did come Viet Nam's way, most notably a shot from Quang Hai which hit the woodwork again, and a wonderful chance for Van Duc who should have scored when played in by the superb Quang Hau, but he shot wide.

Thailand looked dangerous on the counter and one breakaway resulted in Supachai Chaided winning a penalty after he was brought down by Do Duy Manh inside the box.

Chanathip stepped up with his hat-trick beckoning, but he put a poor penalty straight down the middle which goalkeeper Nguyen Manh saved easily.

In the last minutes, Viet Nam had one decent shout for a penalty late on when a Thai defender handled the ball in the penalty area. The referee waved away the Vietnamese protests and soon after ended the match.

The defeat was the first time Coach Park's Viet Nam have ever lost so a fellow Southeast Asian side. The Korean and his players have left themselves a mountain to climb in the second leg on Boxing Day.

Source: VNS