What did the Malaysian futsal coach say after defeating Vietnam to win the bronze medal?

The head coach of Malaysia's U19 futsal team expressed pride as his players overcame Vietnam to secure the bronze medal at the Southeast Asian U19 Futsal Championship.

On the afternoon of December 29, the Malaysian U19 futsal team staged a dramatic comeback against Vietnam's U19 futsal squad in a penalty shootout to claim the bronze medal at the Southeast Asian U19 Futsal Championship.

After the match, Malaysia’s coach Rakphil Sainetngam stated he was very proud of his young players, especially considering their limited preparation and the physical gap between Malaysia’s youth players and some of the region’s top talents.

It is worth noting that a week ago, coach Rakphol himself helped Malaysia’s futsal team win bronze at the 33rd SEA Games, with a 4-2 victory over Vietnam on the opening day. Speaking further about this match, the Thai strategist said: "Although we lost to Thailand in the semifinals, I told the players there was no time to be sad or to apologize; we must be proud", he said.

Returning to this match, Vietnam’s U19 futsal team was initially in the lead thanks to Hoàng Long’s goal in the 5th minute. After scoring, Vietnam controlled the game and created several chances but failed to extend the lead. In the second half, both teams fought hard, but neither managed to score.

The final minutes were intense as Malaysia employed a power-play strategy to increase pressure. Their efforts paid off with an equalizer by Bin Radzi, who scored from close range after Quang Huy failed to clear the ball. With only 15 seconds left, Vietnam executed a well-practiced corner kick routine, allowing Thạch Hiếu to unleash a beautiful long-range shot, bringing the score to 2-1 and seemingly securing victory.

However, in the decisive moment with only 6 seconds remaining, Malaysia pushed forward again and scored the equalizer through Haykal. The match went to a penalty shootout to determine the winner. Malaysia triumphed 4-3 on penalties, earning the bronze medal, while Vietnam finished in a disappointing fourth place.