On July 29 night, U23 Vietnam face the hosts U23 Indonesia in the final of the 2025 ASEAN U-23 Championship. This is the second consecutive final matchup between U23 Vietnam and U23 Indonesia. Vietnamese supporters are expecting that their team will once again overcome U23 Indonesia to clinch a hat-trick of championships.
Many had expected U23 Vietnam and U23 Indonesia to make it to the final of the 2025 ASEAN U23 Championship. True to predictions, U23 Vietnam dominated their semi-final, beating U23 Philippines 2-1. U23 Indonesia, on the other hand, had a much tougher time, narrowly defeating U23 Thailand in a penalty shootout. U23 Thailand arguably played better, but it was U23 Indonesia's grit and a stroke of luck that saw them through to the final.
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| U23 Vietnam players practicing for the final match with U23 Indonesia (Source: VFF) |
The upcoming match between U23 Vietnam and U23 Indonesia marks their third encounter and their second consecutive matchup in a final. In terms of performance and competence, both teams appear evenly matched. U23 Indonesia defeated U23 Vietnam in the 2019 semi-finals and beat U23 Thailand in the final, securing their first championship title. In 2023, defending champions U23 Vietnam overcame U23 Indonesia in a thrilling final decided by a penalty shootout (6-5), clinching their second consecutive title. Therefore, it’s expected that the upcoming ASEAN U23 Championship 2025 final is going to be a captivating rematch. U23 Indonesia is showing high determination to avenge their loss two years ago. Meanwhile, U23 Vietnam is determined to defend their title, aiming for a third championship win in a row.
To overcome strong opponents like U23 Indonesia, Coach Kim Sang-Sik's players will need to significantly improve on their previous performances. Although U23 Vietnam easily reached the final by defeating weaker teams like U23 Laos, U23 Cambodia (group stage), and U23 Philippines (semi-final), their overall display, particularly regarding the strikers' goal scoring prowess, hasn't fully reassured their supporters. Statistics showed that U23 Vietnam have taken 60 shots so far (averaging 20 shots per game), with 17 on target, scoring 7 goals and conceding 2. Half of U23 Vietnam's goals in this tournament came from set pieces, with defenders being the scorers. This shows that U23 Vietnam's attacking line must improve on their scoring prowess if they want to retain their championship title.
U23 Indonesia under Dutch coach Vanenburg looks like a whole new team compared to their squad two years ago. They're showcasing a modern, fast, and highly effective style of play. The joining of naturalized striker Jens Raven, who scored 7 of Indonesia's 10 goals in this tournament, significantly strengthen U23 Indonesia’s attacking line. Besides, U23 Indonesia will have a huge home advantage playing at Gelora Bung Karno Sadium, where over 80,000 fans are expected to cheer them on. U23 Vietnam are expected to have a tough time playing against the hosts in the final. However, with the grit of reigning champions and unwavering determination, hopefully, U23 Vietnam can overcome this challenge and make history by securing their third consecutive championship.
AN NHIEN
Translated by H.N
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