Vietnam today convincingly won against Indonesia 3-0 in the first match of both teams which are rated top seeds for the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games).

The scores were all made in the second half by Tien Linh, 54’, Captain Hung Dung, 74’, and Van Do, 87’.

The Vietnamese team in the match versus Indonesia on May 6. Photo: Hoang Anh

Vietnamese commentator Phan Anh Tu said that Coach Park Hang-seo surprised the opponent when he placed Van Xuan on the right wing from the left and replaced Van Tung with Nham Manh Dung to pair with Tien Linh. Such changes and substitution brought U23 Vietnam in favor of an offensive style from the beginning of the second half. The flexible tactics helped the home team win but did not share points as stated before the match.

Vietnamese midfielders Hoang Duc, Hung Dung, and Hoang Anh mastered the match in which the trio contributed to the scores by direct kicks and passes.

Among the scores, the opening made by Tien Linh and the second by Captain Hung Dung got compliments from commentators. Both scores marked the contributions of the two players. In the second goal, Hung Dung, from Tien Linh’s pass, finished technically by the outside of his right foot to make goalkeeper Adi Satryo helpless.

In the post-match interview with Vietnam Television (VTV), Tien Linh said the win released the team from the pressure of the home team which was expected by millions of fans.

Tien Linh of the Vietnamese team. Photo: Ngoc Tu/The Hanoi Times

Indonesia came to SEA Games 31 with the desire to change the color of its medals, after finishing second in the final in the previous games in 2019. In speeches before entering the tournament, officials, Coach Shin Tae-yong and many Indonesian players all emphasized the importance of the opening match against Vietnam. They were determined to win the match to create a springboard for a breakthrough SEA Games.

The defeat on May 6, therefore, somewhat blew the confidence of the Indonesian players. After the match, many shook their heads in disgust. However, the Korean tactician believed that Indonesia would have other chances to win.

“The tournament has just begun, Indonesia will strive to achieve the best results the rest of the way,” Shin said in the post-match press conference.

In the evening’s match, Shin Tae-yong’s players actively held the pace, launching a series of attacks but all ended ineffectively.

Vietnamese journalist Minh Hai said the slow pace in the first minutes of the first half somewhat showed Park Hang-seo’s tactics who wanted his men to understand their rivals better and master the match later on.

In the second half, Vietnam dominated the match and actively organized attacks to find the opening goal. In contrast, Indonesia U23 was focusing on defense and waiting for the opportunity to counterattack.

On the same day, the Philippines defeated Timor Leste 4-0. As planned to advance to the semi-finals, the Philippines’ Coach Norman Fegidero Jr. sent senior players Stephan Schrock and Jovin Hervas Bedic to the match from the beginning.

On May 8, the Philippines will face Vietnam while Timor-Leste meet Myanmar.

Vietnam's Captain Hung Dung in the match. Photo: Ngoc Tu/The Hanoi Times