Vietnam to take on Indonesia in 2024 AFF Futsal Championship final

Vietnam endured a challenging match in the semi-final when they played Australia that were ranking 14 places higher on the FIFA rankings.

Australia played a straightforward game, but their physical advantage made things difficult for Vietnam. Coach Diego Giustozzi’s players struggled in most physical duels against their opponents.

Vietnamese players could not produce attacks, while their defenders exposed several weaknesses, making it easier for their Australian opponents to score two goals in the first half through simple combinations.

Vietnam continued to face challenges in the early minutes of the second half, and the deadlock was broken when Nguyen Da Hai earned a penalty, allowing Tu Minh Quang to reduce the score.

This was the turning point that sparked Vietnam’s dramatic comeback. A few minutes later, duo Da Hai and Minh Quang stole the show again. This time, Minh Quang provided an assist for Da Hai to score from close range.

However, Vietnam conceded almost immediately when Tran Nhat Trung accidentally scored an own goal. Yet, Minh Quang and Da Hai combined once more to equalize 3-3, pushing the match into extra time.

In the decisive moment of the match, Nguyen Thinh Phat emerged as the hero.  The number 10 striker’s header gave Vietnam the lead right after the kickoff.

Australia earned an equalizer with less than two minutes left in extra time, but the brief remaining time was enough for Vietnam to score the winning goal. After Australia missed a 10-meter penalty, Thinh Phat successfully converted a similar opportunity, sending Vietnam to the final.

In another semi-final match on the same day, Indonesia stun Thailand 5-1, advancing to the final.

Vietnam are scheduled to take on Indonesia on November 10, at 6p.m. (local time).