Indonesia Beats Vietnam in Asian Cup 2023
- VIVA.co.id/Arianti Widya
Indonesia captain Asnawi Bahar stepped up to take it, kissing the ball before smashing it into the top left corner. His team deserved the lead after a strong opening half for the Group D hopefuls.
Fuelled by the support from the stands, Hubner shaved the post with a glancing header to close the half.
Vietnam opted for a double substitution at half time in a bid to turn the game around - introducing youngster Van Khang Khuat and striker Le Pham Thanh to the battlefield.
A duo with very little international experience, Troussier threw them into the mix looking for a moment of individual brilliance.
With the tempo switched in favour of the Vietnamese as they chased a goal, they forced a great save from Indonesia’s Sutaryadi, to keep out a long range effort that took a crucial deflection en route to goal.
The second half had picked up where the first left off with a pulsating energy as Vietnam raised their pace.
Vietnam’s best opportunity of the match came early after the break, as Van Tung Nguyen failed to convert a point-blank finish at full stretch, as reported from the inside world football.
Indonesian Captain Bahar, who scored the only goal of the game, was forced off the pitch in the 56th minute due to an injury concern. Vietnam’s eagerness to win back the ball sparked a flurry of knocks for Indonesia players, highlighted by a head injury to Jordi Amat.
With play paused for multiple minutes, the Indonesian medical team deployed a stretcher for the wounded defender after the player was struck by an elbow, his face bleeding.
Vietnam became more frenetic and in the 90th minute substitute Le returned to the stands after receiving a red card for a sliding challenge on Ferdinan.
The reduction from 11 men to ten was a huge blow for Vietnam in the closing stages of the match.
