The match began with high intensity as Indonesia created early pressure. In the opening minutes, a powerful long throw from the left led to a close-range header by Jens Raven, but the ball narrowly missed the crossbar, much to the relief of Vietnamese goalkeeper Nguyen Trung Kien.

In the 11th minute, the Japanese referee paused the match to review a VAR incident involving a reckless stomp by Rayhan Hannan on Khuat Van Khang’s heel, resulting in a yellow card for the Indonesian midfielder.

Vietnam’s defence line looked vulnerable on set pieces, and in the 22nd minute, Dinh Bac had to clear a dangerous ball following a poor judgment by goalkeeper Trung Kien. Offensively, Vietnam managed only three attempts in the first half, with Xuan Bac and Van Truong failing to trouble the Indonesian goalkeeper.

Despite early struggles, Vietnam broke the deadlock in the 33rd minute. After Ly Duc won an aerial duel, the ball fell to Nguyen Cong Phuong, who fired a precise shot from close range to beat Ardiansyah, giving Vietnam a 1-0 lead.

The first half ended with Vietnam ahead, having weathered multiple attacking waves from the hosts.

The second half saw increased aggression and physicality. In the 55th minute, a hard tackle by Anh Quan on Missa sparked a scuffle between the players. VAR review confirmed a yellow card for the Vietnamese defender.

Indonesia dominated possession in the second half but struggled to find clear chances. Their first notable attempt came in the 76th minute when Rudianto blasted over the bar from inside the box. Just three minutes later, Robi Dawis sent another wild shot high into the stands.

In the 84th minute, another scare came for Vietnam when Anh Quan’s foul gave Indonesia a dangerous free-kick near the edge of the penalty area. However, Arkhan squandered the opportunity with a shot that flew well over.

Indonesia pushed relentlessly in the final minutes, launching cross after cross into Vietnam’s box, but the Vietnamese defence stood firm.

With the final whistle, Vietnam claimed a hard-fought 1-0 victory, marking their third straight ASEAN U23 Championship title and continuing their dominance in the regional tournament under coach Kim Sang-sik.

Vietnam set for grudge final against hosts Indonesia in ASEAN U23 Championship

VOV.VN - Vietnam stand on the brink of a historic third ASEAN U23 Championship title as they face hosts Indonesia in the final match at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium on July 29. However, their opponents are a far stronger side than the one Vietnam defeated two years ago.