Thailand had to settle for second place in the three-nation competition with only one point from a goalless draw with Malaysia, five points adrift of the Vietnamese, who thrashed the Malaysians 4-0.

To compound the Thai team's misery, Wuthichai Thatong, who came at half-time, was sent off in the closing minutes after two bookable offences.

The drab first half ended 0-0, despite the Vietnamese enjoying the lion's share of possession. The game livened up after the interval as the Vietnamese went forward in search of a breakthrough. They did not have to wait too long and took a 48th-minute lead through a poacher's goal.

Trailing 1-0, Prapol Pongpanich's side stepped up a gear but it was the hosts who doubled their advantage 11 minutes from time from a counter-attack. Then tempers boiled over following Wuthichai's dismissal. Waruth Wongdee, who was frustrated over the red card, appeared to punch a Vietnamese player. Following the incident, players from both sides scuffled before officials and coaches stepped in.

Kasem Jariyawatwong, the Thai team manager, was fuming and blamed poor refereeing on the defeat. "The Vietnamese referee officiated very poorly," he said. "When the scoreline was still nil-nil, he seemed to be biased by giving too many fouls against my team. That undoubtedly made my players upset."