International Futsal Friendly: Vietnam Futsal Team vs. Kazakhstan: 4-1
The Vietnam futsal national team defeated Kazakhstan, the world’s 7th-ranked team, with a 4-1 score in the first leg of their friendly match, held on the afternoon of April 13 at Lanh Binh Thang Arena (Ho Chi Minh City).
15/04/2025 10:26:04
The Vietnam futsal national team had the opportunity to face a high-quality opponent in Kazakhstan, currently ranked 7th in the world. Notably, the Central Asian side brought six players who featured in the quarterfinals of the 2024 Futsal World Cup, including their captain and goalkeeper, Leo Higuita. Despite going up against such a strong team, coach Diego Giustozzi’s players delivered a confident performance in the first half.
The first lineup—consisting of Hồ Văn Ý, Châu Đoàn Phát, Trần Thái Huy, Nhan Gia Hưng, and Trịnh Công Đại—entered the match with sharp wing attacks. Công Đại tested substitute goalkeeper Kanat early on. After a cautious start, the visitors gradually found their rhythm and began creating chances. Yerzhan fired a shot from a tight angle, followed by a powerful strike from Akbalikov Albert that threatened Hồ Văn Ý’s goal. Kazakhstan showcased a varied playing style, combining group play with individual skill. In the 6th minute, Azat Valiullin used his strength to shield the ball, turned, and shot—fortunately, the Vietnamese goalkeeper stayed alert and kept the situation under control.
The match was thrilling, with continuous attacking plays from both teams. In the 13th minute, Kazakhstan introduced goalkeeper Leo Higuita for a power-play strategy. However, before the Brazilian-born keeper could showcase his skills, he was beaten by a goal. In the 14th minute, Abdirassi made a poor pass, and Từ Minh Quang capitalized on the mistake, scoring with an accurate long-range shot from his own half.
The first half ended with a 1-0 lead for Diego Giustozzi’s team, but it also brought pressure, as Kazakhstan is a team full of resilience. They often increased the tempo, constantly creating quick passes that made it difficult for Vietnam’s ala players to maintain control. In the 25th minute, Albert Akbalikov made a pass that was almost a perfect setup, but Nursultan’s shot hit the left post. Just seconds later, Ngọc Ánh fouled an opponent inside the penalty area, but fortunately, Albert Akbalikov’s penalty kick struck the right post.
After a few minutes of having to retreat and defend, coach Diego Giustozzi’s players gradually regained control of the match. In the 29th minute, Thái Huy intercepted the ball from an opponent, but the Vietnamese ala was unable to beat goalkeeper Kanat. Vietnam’s players would likely feel regret just three minutes later when they conceded a goal. Inside the penalty area, Albert Akbalikov used his strength to hold off a defender before passing the ball to the wing, where Karmennov Yerzhan finished with a tight-angle shot, leveling the score at 1-1 for Kazakhstan.
The remaining time of the match saw both teams play cautiously, with the intensity not as high. Vietnam had two shots, both from Ngọc Ánh, but the attempts either missed the target or were blocked by the opponent. With just under 2 minutes remaining, coach Diego Giustozzi made a bold decision to implement a power-play strategy. In the 39th minute, Đa Hải made a brilliant dribble before passing the ball back to Đoàn Phát, who scored from distance, putting Vietnam ahead 2-1. With only 1 minute and 23 seconds left, the action continued unexpectedly as Kazakhstan also played power-play. Hồ Văn Ý then scored with just 51 seconds remaining, and Công Viên sealed the 4-1 victory for Vietnam with a goal 8 seconds before the final whistle.
