Group F: Indonesia 1-0 Vietnam
Vietnam team could not get a point against host Indonesia in tonight’s match…
Vietnam national team has a trio of central defenders: Tien Dung, Viet Anh and Tuan Tai. On the front line, veteran faces like Hung Dung or Hoang Duc played from the beginning. However, Hoang Duc plays as a striker with Manh Dung and Dinh Bac, not in the center of the defense.
On the other side, coach Shin Tae Yong has made notable changes in the starting lineup compared to the match between the two teams in the 2023 Asian Cup. Goalkeeper Neo is on the bench to make room for the new “keeper” – 22 years old, Adi. In the bottom three of the defense, two rookies Jay Idzes and Nathan accompany midfielder Rizky Ridho. Ivar Jenner and Ferdinan remained in the middle of the center circle while in the striker line, Mr. Shin used the duo Rafael Struick and Hokky Caraka. Playing at home with the support of more than 70,000 spectators on the field, Indonesia suddenly chose a cautious approach when arranging the team quite low in the home field. This strategy is completely different from the first 45 minutes in the duel between the two teams in the 2023 Asian Cup (Indonesia suddenly pushed the team high, created great pressure and controlled the ball more than 53%). It was the home team’s caution that helped the Vietnam team control the ball better. Admittedly, Hung Dung’s presence in the midfield area has helped make disputes more effective. That is one of the reasons why the Vietnam team controlled 64% of the ball in the first half, sometimes even up to 72%.
Host Indonesia had a situation with the ball along the sidelines threatening Nguyen Filip’s goal. The first was Struick’s ball on the left wing, which caused the right side of the Vietnam team to be covered in time, so it was successfully resolved in the 29th minute. Two minutes later, Yakob took the ball wide open on the right wing, but Viet Anh was able to cut the ball before it reached the feet of a home player who was moving freely right in the 5m area of the Vietnam team.
At the beginning of the second half, coach Shin Tae Yong sent players with better speed and attack such as Arhan and Egy onto the field and changed his tactics when playing offensively against the Vietnam team. Just 5 minutes after applying pressure, Indonesia broke the deadlock and the scorer was Egy.
Conceding a goal forced Coach Troussier to send veteran players onto the field. However, the excitement along with the solid and fierce playing style of Mr. Shin Tae Yong’s team, not afraid of collision, caused the Vietnam national team’s organizing moves to not achieve the desired results.
Defeated with a final score of 0-1, Vietnam Team lost second place in the rankings to their opponents. In the second leg against Indonesia, on the evening of March 26 at My Dinh National Stadium, the Vietnam team had to win to regain their old position on the rankings.