Indonesian media highlights the turning point that led to a 7-3 victory over Vietnam in the AFF tournament

The decisive 7-3 triumph over Vietnam’s U19 futsal squad in the semifinals of the 2025 Southeast Asian U19 Futsal Championship not only propelled Indonesia’s U19 team directly into the final but also generated significant buzz among the Indonesian media.

According to CNN Indonesia, Indonesia’s U19 futsal team delivered “an almost flawless performance” against Vietnam, especially in capitalizing on mistakes and controlling the game at critical moments. The outlet emphasized how Indonesia quickly imposed a high-tempo style, maintaining constant pressure that frequently unsettled Vietnam’s defense. CNN Indonesia commented: “Vietnam started with great determination, but Indonesia demonstrated a clear edge in intensity and transition capability.”

Indonesian media also devoted considerable analysis to Vietnam’s power play tactics, a factor seen as the turning point that shifted the match decisively in favor of the red-and-white team. CNN Indonesia further noted that Vietnam’s early use of power play backfired against Indonesia’s disciplined defense. The Indonesian paper wrote: “Vietnam continued to rely on the power play strategy, while Indonesia’s defense remained solid.”

A detail particularly highlighted by Indonesian media was the outstanding performance of goalkeeper Guntur Rochmatdani. Not only reliable in goal, Guntur also scored 2 goals into an empty net when Vietnam played without a goalkeeper. CNN Indonesia described this as an “iconic moment,” showcasing Indonesia’s confidence and composure under pressure.

The article clearly stated: “The first goal came when the Halus FC club goalkeeper successfully blocked an attack, then calmly shot accurately into the empty net, raising the score to 6-3. Shortly after, a similar scenario occurred: Guntur stole the ball and finished precisely, sealing Indonesia’s 7-3 victory.”

For Vietnam’s U19 futsal team, the 3-7 loss serves as a major lesson in their development. Although they fell short just before the final, the young players’ performance showed many positives, especially their fighting spirit and desire to contribute. However, as Indonesian media pointed out, to compete evenly in high-stakes matches, Vietnam needs to improve game control and reduce mistakes at decisive moments.