MANDIRI CUP™ 2025 – REPORT: INDONESIA 0-1 VIETNAM
Jakarta: Vietnam claimed the ASEAN U-23 Mandiri Cup™ 2025 with a 1-0 victory over hosts Indonesia at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium on Tuesday as Nguyễn Công Phương scored eight minutes from the end of the first half to earn his nation a third successive title.
The Vietnamese followed up their trophy wins from 2022 and 2023 by defeating Indonesia in the final for the second event in a row, with Công Phương slotting the ball beyond goalkeeper Muhammad Ardiansyah for the game’s only goal.
The win was the fourth in a row at the 2025 edition of the competition by Kim Sang-sik’s side and came in a match played out in front of a crowd in excess of 35,500 at the fabled venue in central Jakarta.
Vietnam prevailed from a tense clash in which Jens Raven almost put Indonesia in front as early as the fifth minute, the Bali United forward heading over the bar after Robi Darwis’ long throw into the six-yard box had caused panic in the Vietnam defence.
With both sides engaged in a physical battle in midfield, scoring opportunities were at a premium for much of the encounter.
Nguyễn Văn Trường went close to giving Vietnam the lead when he met Nguyễn Đình Bắc’s corner from the left, timing his run perfectly to glance the ball goalward. But the header flew agonisingly wide of the target.
Raven, the tournament’s leading scorer, threatened again soon after with Trần Trung Kiên dropping to his right to save, while the Vietnam goalkeeper was quickly off his line to block Rayhan Hannan when the Indonesian was found in space behind the defence.
It was somewhat against the run of play that the defending champions took the lead eight minutes before the interval.
A Đình Bắc corner was delivered into the penalty area and, when Phạm Lý Đức’s header looped into the air, the Indonesian defence failed to clear convincingly to allow Công Phương to unleash a shot that slid into the bottom corner past Ardiansyah.
Having gone in front, Vietnam set about defending their advantage and frustrating the home side.
Kakang Rudianto scooped a tame effort high over the bar and Robi Darwis was harmlessly wayward with his attempt as Indonesia’s challenge fizzled out in the second half, allowing Vietnam to retain the title.
Mandiri Player of the Match – Nguyễn Đình Bắc #7, Vietnam
