Bangkok, Sketsa.id – Vietnam clinched its third AFF U-23 Cup title with a narrow 1-0 victory over Indonesia in a tense final at Thammasat Stadium on Wednesday night. Nguyen Van Tung’s first-half header shattered Indonesia’s impeccable 347-minute clean sheet record, securing Vietnam’s back-to-back tournament triumphs while denying the Garuda Muda their maiden championship.
Indonesia opened aggressively, dominating possession early as Marselino Ferdinan and Witan Sulaeman tested Vietnamese goalkeeper Quan Van Chuan within the first 15 minutes. Despite controlling midfield, Indonesia’s finishing faltered—a weakness Vietnam exploited ruthlessly in the 39th minute. Nguyen Dinh Bac’s whipped cross found Van Tung unmarked, his downward header beating Ernando Ari at the near post.
The momentum shifted decisively against Indonesia in the 62nd minute when Pratama Arhan received a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Nguyen Thanh Nhan. Reduced to 10 men, Indonesia still fought relentlessly and earned a lifeline in the 75th minute when Witan Sulaeman was fouled in the box. Van Chuan, however, dove correctly to save Witan’s penalty kick—crushing Indonesian hopes of a comeback. Vietnam managed the remainder of the match with tactical discipline, frustrating Indonesia’s exhausted squad.
Head Coach Shin Tae-yong acknowledged Vietnam’s efficiency: “They converted their critical chance; we did not. Playing with ten men demanded extraordinary energy, but our spirit never broke. This experience will fortify us for the Asian Cup qualifiers.” Captain Rizky Ridho echoed the sentiment: “We dreamed of delivering the trophy to our fans. Vietnam’s composure under pressure is a lesson we must learn.”
Vietnam’s victory extends their regional dominance with a third title (2018, 2022, 2023). Indonesia exits with historic positives: the first finalist to reach the championship match without conceding a goal in the tournament’s group and knockout stages. Van Tung secured the Golden Boot (5 goals), while teammate Khuat Van Khang claimed MVP honors.
The Garuda Muda return to Jakarta ahead of September’s AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualifiers in China. Shin Tae-yong faces immediate challenges, including restructuring his defense following Arhan’s suspension and addressing offensive conversion rates.
AFFU23Final, IndonesianFootball, VietnamChampions, GarudaMuda, ShinTaeYong
