In a thrilling match at the Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, the Indonesian U-22 national team emerged victorious against Vietnam in the semifinal of the men’s football competition at the SEA Games 2023.
The intense encounter showcased remarkable resilience from Indonesia, despite being reduced to 10 men, as they sealed a hard-fought 3-2 win to secure their place in the final.
The game kicked off with both teams launching attacking moves right from the start. The Indra Sjafri-led Indonesian squad found themselves facing a determined Vietnamese side, which made it challenging for them to dominate the first half.
Indonesia took the lead in the 10th minute through a header by Komang Teguh, who expertly converted a throw-in assist from Pratama Arhan. However, Vietnam managed to equalize in the 35th minute, resulting in a 1-1 draw at halftime.
After the break, Indonesia maintained relentless pressure on Vietnam’s defense. Their persistence paid off in the 53rd minute when Marselino Ferdinan unleashed a powerful strike from outside the penalty box, which took a deflection off Muhammad Ferrari’s foot, giving Indonesia a 2-1 advantage.
Despite being a goal down, Vietnam launched several dangerous counter-attacks. However, Indonesia’s solid defense proved difficult to penetrate, and their opponents struggled to find a breakthrough.
A turning point occurred when Pratama Arhan received a second yellow card from the referee, reducing Indonesia to 10 men. The team faced a daunting challenge, but they remained resilient in the face of adversity.
In an unfortunate turn of events, Indonesia’s defender Bagas Kaffa inadvertently scored an own goal in the 78th minute, equalizing the score at 2-2. Bagas’s attempted clearance ended up in the back of the net, creating an unexpected twist in the match.
As the game approached the end of regular time, Vietnam intensified their attacks, creating several close calls for Indonesia’s goal.
In a dramatic turn of events in the 95th minute, Taufany Muslihuddin unleashed a strike from outside the penalty box, finding the back of the net and securing a 3-2 lead for Indonesia.
The scoreline remained unchanged until the final whistle, confirming Indonesia’s triumph over Vietnam in the semifinal of the men’s football competition at the SEA Games 2023.
With this victory, the Indonesian U-22 national team has earned the right to advance to the final of the men’s football competition at the SEA Games 2023. The team now eagerly awaits the outcome of the match between Thailand and Myanmar to determine their opponent in the final.
Persib World 