Brian Jeffrey
Vietnam Triumphs Over Indonesia in Nail-Biting Match
On December 15, Vietnam’s national football team secured a thrilling 1-0 victory against Indonesia at Viet Tri Stadium, highlighted by a spectacular goal from star player Nguyen Quang Hai.
The match, part of the third round in Group B of the 2024 AFF Mitsubishi Electric Cup, showcased head coach Kim Sang-sik’s strategic changes, featuring almost half a new lineup compared to their initial game against Laos.
As favorites, Vietnam dominated possession right from the start, launching aggressive attacks that kept much of the play within Indonesia’s territory. In contrast, Coach Shin Tae-yong’s Indonesian squad adopted a defensive strategy, maintaining a compact formation.
Despite controlling the game, Vietnam struggled to convert their chances during the first half, which included:
3rd Minute: Quang Hai’s high cross from a corner found Nguyen Van Vi, whose powerful attempt from outside the box was skillfully blocked by Indonesia’s defense.
35th Minute: Tien Linh capitalized on a defensive mistake and initiated a rapid counterattack, delivering a precise pass to Tan Tai. However, a potential penalty was overlooked by the referee as Tan Tai was tackled in the box.
41st Minute: Tien Linh’s header prompted a challenging save from the Indonesian goalkeeper, yet the teams remained scoreless at halftime.
In the second half, Indonesia started to create more chances. A significant moment came in the 65th minute when Benjamin Dethan evaded defenders for a close-range shot, but Vietnam’s goalkeeper Nguyen Filip made a vital save.
The breakthrough came in the 77th minute, thanks to Quang Hai. From a distance, he unleashed a powerful shot that struck the crossbar. Tien Linh skillfully controlled the rebound, but Quang Hai was quick to follow up with a precise low shot into the net, giving Vietnam a 1-0 lead.
After taking the lead, Vietnam stayed on the offensive, generating several additional chances, but the final score remained at 1-0. The match concluded with Vietnam securing a critical victory.
This win propelled Vietnam to the top of Group B with six points, surpassing Indonesia, which retained second place with four points.
