Vietnam dominated the first half, holding onto 75 per cent of possession and registering 18 shots on keeper Cahya Supriadi's goal. But the shot that made the difference came in the 77th minute, from the player that everybody was counting on to break the deadlock. Quang Hai unleashed a beautiful long-range shot that hit the crossbar of Indonesia's goal.
In the final 10 minutes of the match, Vietnam continued to apply pressure in search of a second goal. While they couldn't score again, the 1-0 victory over Indonesia remained significant.
“I know the fans were hoping for a big win. We feel very sorry, but we still have all three points. The players’ winning will is very strong, and this victory makes me satisfied,” said coach Kim Sang-sik after the match.
Meanwhile, coach Shin Tae-yong attributed the Indonesian loss to the difference in skill levels, saying his team entered the tournament with many young players under 22, so they could not be compared to the strongest lineup of the Vietnamese team.
With this result, Vietnam now lead Group B with six points, ahead of Indonesia, who have four. A win over Philippines on Wednesday, who earlier drew 1-1 with Laos, will secure a spot for the Golden Star Warriors in the semifinals of the 2024 ASEAN Cup.
TH