A strong finish was enough to hand 2008 champions Vietnam a 3-0 win over Laos on Tuesday night putting them in the box seat to qualify for the semifinals of the 2014 AFF Suzuki Cup.
Having edged ahead at the My Dinh Stadium in Hanoi through Vu Minh Tuan's 27th-minute opener, the Vietnamese then flattered to deceive for much of the match. But ultimately they went on to win by a convincing scoreline after further goals in the final six minutes from Le Cong Vinh and Nguyen Huy Hung.
The result means the Group A hosts are now second on the table and only need to avoid defeat against Philippines in Friday's final match to guarantee their place in the last four.
Having made five changes to his starting XI from last Saturday's 2-2 draw against Indonesia, Vietnam's Japanese boss Toshiya Miura would have been pleased with his team's energetic start.
Still, they struggled to create any clear chances in the opening exchanges with the best opportunity falling to Nguyen Anh Duc in the 11th minute. But he could only send a towering header off target after being picked out by Le Tan Tai's looping cross.
However, the breakthrough did finally arrive three minutes before the half-hour mark when Tan Tai played another probing ball in behind the opposition defence. This time, Minh Tuan was able to capitalise as he charged in and steered the ball past Seng Athit Somvang into the bottom corner.
Tan Tai, who was one of the players brought in after the disappointing draw against Indonesia, was looming as the likeliest man to make things happen for Vietnam.
Six minutes into the second half, he played another lovely lofted pass that was flicked on into the danger area by Cong Vinh, but Anh Duc could only send a wayward volley wide of the mark.
Their next chance arrived in the 56th minute and this time it was Cong Vinh who improvised well to meet Minh Tuan's powerful shot with a deft header towards goal, only to see it come back off the post.
Like Tan Tai, Minh Tuan was emerging as one of the hosts' better players with his tireless running but he wasted an excellent chance seven minutes after the hour mark; failing to beat Seng Athit in a one-on-one situation after being played through by Nguyen Van Quyet's ingenious back-heel pass.
It was beginning to look as though it was just not going to be their day as they continued to spurn well-worked openings, with Van Quyet rushing his first-time volley and sending it wide despite being in acres of space. And then Cong Vinh was denied by a smart save from Seng Athit after doing well to skip past a couple of defenders.
Nonetheless, Vietnam were finally rewarded for their persistence as they grabbed a second goal in the 84th minute. Cong Vinh was left with an easy finish on the rebound after Tan Tai's initial effort had been saved.
And just four minutes later, the win was secured after Van Quyet did brilliantly to nutmeg Bounthavy Sipasong and whip a cross to Huy Hung, who found the back of the net with a firm side-footed finish.
Even if Vietnam lose their final group game against Philippines on Friday, their superior goal-difference is likely to see them through as Indonesia face Laos in the other game, which will kick off simultaneously.