The Malaysian Football Association reacts like never before after defeating Vietnam

The win on penalties over Vietnam’s U19 Futsal squad not only earned Malaysia the Southeast Asian third-place spot but also led the Malaysian Football Association to show rare excitement online.

On the afternoon of December 29, Vietnam’s U19 Futsal team concluded the 2025 Southeast Asian U19 Futsal Championship with a thrilling third-place playoff against Malaysia’s U19 Futsal team. After 40 minutes of regular play and a tense penalty shootout, Malaysia triumphed 4-3 from the 6-meter spot, claiming the bronze medal. However, the most notable aspect was not the match itself but the extraordinary reaction from the Malaysian Football Association.

The match started well for Vietnam’s U19 Futsal when Hoàng Long scored early in the 5th minute. This goal allowed coach Nguyễn Tuấn Anh’s team to control the game and create several dangerous chances. In the second half, Vietnam maintained their momentum and scored again, but Lê Bộ’s goal was disallowed.

Forced to push forward, Malaysia’s U19 Futsal adopted a power-play strategy in the final minutes. The constant pressure paid off when Bin Radzi equalized at 1-1. The drama intensified as Thạch Hiếu scored a long-range goal to make it 2-1 for Vietnam with only 15 seconds left. Yet, just 6 seconds before the final whistle, Haykal exploited a defensive lapse to level the score at 2-2, sending the match into penalties. There, Malaysia showed greater composure and won 4-3.

Immediately after the match, the FAM repeatedly posted updates on their official fanpage, a rarity for a third-place match. In their first announcement, FAM emphasized: “The Malaysia U19 futsal team performed excellently to secure third place at the 2025 Southeast Asian U19 Futsal Championship held in Thailand.” Not stopping there, the association continued with detailed match reports covering preparations, goals, and the penalty shootout.

FAM added: “Malaysia fell behind twice in the second half, but the young players showed strong fighting spirit to equalize and win on penalties.” Another post conveyed strong emotion: “No rest, no regrets. Only pride.”

According to FAM, the U19 Malaysia squad was selected through continuous scouting during the 2025 National U19 Futsal Championship in Kelana Jaya, aiming to build a solid foundation for the future. This third-place finish is seen as a positive sign, especially since Malaysia had previously been eliminated in the semifinals by host Thailand after penalties.

On the other hand, it was a disappointing day for Vietnamese futsal as both U16 and U19 teams lost their third-place matches. Earlier, the U19 team suffered a heavy 3-7 defeat to Indonesia in the semifinals, and the U16 also missed out on a medal. These results indicate that Vietnamese youth futsal still has much work to do to maintain its regional standing.

The FAM’s open excitement and frequent Facebook updates after the victory over Vietnam clearly highlight the significance of this result for Malaysian futsal. It is not just a bronze medal but also a morale booster as they strive to regain their position against major Southeast Asian rivals.