Vietnam advances closer to ASEAN futsal championship semifinals

Vietnam’s futsal team secured a crucial 2-0 win over Malaysia, bringing them closer to a spot in the semifinals of the 2024 ASEAN Futsal Championship in Thailand. Building on their initial triumph over Timor Leste, Coach Diego Giustozzi’s squad faced a determined Malaysia, who posed a tougher challenge than anticipated.

In the first half, Vietnam struggled to find their rhythm, with players like Duc Hoa and teammates frequently misplacing passes and failing to coordinate effectively. Malaysia, by contrast, played confidently, creating scoring opportunities whenever possible. Thanks to goalkeeper Van Tu’s excellent reflexes and a timely save by the crossbar, Vietnam managed to keep the match scoreless heading into halftime.

After the break, Vietnam upped the tempo, intensifying pressure on Malaysia’s defense. In the 25th minute, a quick corner kick appeared to have led to a header goal by Thinh Phat, but it was disallowed as the referees ruled that the corner was taken before the official signal.

Vietnam didn’t have to wait long to celebrate, though. In the 27th minute, a Malaysian player’s handball in the penalty area earned Vietnam a 6-meter penalty. Stepping up, Minh Quang calmly converted, breaking the deadlock and putting Vietnam ahead 1-0.

With the momentum now on their side, Vietnam began creating more chances. In the 33rd minute, Thai Huy struck a powerful shot that rattled the post, and just a minute later, in a rapid counterattack, Thinh Phat unleashed a left-footed strike that found the top corner, extending Vietnam’s lead to 2-0.

In the final minutes, Malaysia deployed a powerplay strategy in search of a comeback, but Vietnam’s defense held firm, closing out the match with a clean sheet.

This victory marks Vietnam’s second consecutive win in the tournament, putting them in a strong position to reach the semifinals. Coach Giustozzi’s squad will face Brunei in their third group match on November 5 at 3:30 p.m., aiming to continue their winning streak and secure their place in the next stage of the competition.