U23 Vietnam showed their cunning to defeat U23 Indonesia. |
The final match of the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship at Gelora Bung Karno on the evening of July 29 ended with an unsurprising scenario: U23 Vietnam continued to be crowned, despite U23 Indonesia having home field advantage and a burning desire. Nguyen Cong Phuong's only goal in the 37th minute was the decisive moment of the match, but what was more remarkable was the bravery and "experience" of the red team under the leadership of coach Kim Sang-sik.
When "old hands" surpasses desire
U23 Indonesia entered the match with strong momentum, actively holding the ball and attacking from the start. However, it was the solidity of Vietnam's defense, along with coach Kim Sang-sik's calculated game adjustments, that caused all those efforts to be broken.
Coach Kim Sang-sik - who has been highly regarded for his ability to "read" the game - continued to prove that he understands his opponents very well. The patience, discipline and ability to control the tempo of the match of U23 Vietnam are clear evidence of that.
At the end of the match, when Indonesia tried to deploy tactical throw-ins, Coach Kim stood near the sideline to direct his players and accidentally interrupted Robi Darwis. That situation made his colleague Gerald Vanenburg (U23 Indonesia) angry, but from another perspective, it also showed the Korean strategist's alertness and ability to apply psychological pressure at the right time.
In tense finals, every little detail can make a difference - and Coach Kim showed remarkable insight.
Coach Kim Sang-sik has had more success with Vietnamese football. |
The match was decided by a set piece, which Vietnam always exploited well. In the 37th minute, from a corner kick, the Indonesian defense did not clear the ball decisively, allowing Nguyen Cong Phuong to unleash a powerful shot in the penalty area, opening the score. This goal not only demonstrated finishing skills, but also reflected Vietnam's careful preparation for "dead ball" situations - an important weapon at the U23 level.
Despite Indonesia accelerating in the second half, sending in Dony Tri Pamungkas and pushing Jens Raven and Rayhan Hannan forward, they still could not penetrate the red shirt defense. Every cover and every move of the Vietnamese defense showed cohesion and alertness, leaving Ardiansyah's goal with almost no chance of threatening.
tense match
The atmosphere was tense from the very first minutes. The referee had to give three yellow cards to Rayhan Hannan, Kadek Arel Priyatna (Indonesia) and Pham Ly Duc (Vietnam) in the first half. At the end of the half, the players of both teams clashed and exchanged words, showing the intensity of a final match. However, U23 Vietnam remained calm, not being swept away by the hot-tempered style of play, and that was an important difference compared to Indonesia.
Vanenburg's team had an impressive journey, but the final exposed their weaknesses: a lack of coolness and courage in decisive moments. Indonesia attacked more, controlled the ball more, but the sharpness belonged to Vietnam.
The lesson from this defeat is clear - football not only needs youth and desire, but also experience and cunning, which U23 Vietnam possesses.
With this squad of players, Vietnamese football has the right to hope. |
With coach Kim Sang-sik, he continues to have another successful tournament with Vietnamese football - after winning the 2024 ASEAN Cup. The Korean strategist not only brings a disciplined, solid playing style, but also breathes into the team a "street" spirit - experience in every detail.
In short tournaments, where every mistake is costly, the intelligence and sophistication that Coach Kim brings is the key to success.
The final at Gelora Bung Karno was a testament to a mature U23 Vietnam team that knows how to overcome the pressure of away matches and turn every opportunity into a goal. That is the mettle of a great team - and also the challenge that U23 Indonesia needs to overcome if they want to go far in the future.
The only goal helped U23 Vietnam win the Southeast Asian Championship. On the evening of July 29, the U23 Vietnam team defeated Indonesia 1-0 in the final of the 2025 Southeast Asian Championship held at Bung Karno Stadium.
Source: https://znews.vn/u23-viet-nam-qua-gia-ro-tinh-quai-post1569238.html
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