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View all search resultsIndonesian U-23 soccer team braces to face Vietnam again in ASEAN final
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Indonesian soccer player Rahmat Arjuna Reski (left) battles for the ball with Thailand’s Sek an Ratree (right) on July 25, 2025, during the semifinal match of the 2025 AFF U-23 Championship at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Senayan, Central Jakarta. The match ended in a win for Indonesia after penalties. (Antara/Muhammad Adimaja)
T
he Indonesian national under-23 soccer team has a mountain to climb in Tuesday’s final match of the 2025 ASEAN U-23 Championship, where they will face Vietnam, the opponent that beat Indonesia in the tournament’s final two years ago.
Indonesia reached the final of the Southeast Asian championship after a tense semifinal match with Thailand last Friday that ended in a 7-6 penalty shootout victory following a 1-1 tie in the 120-minute game.
The win adds to Indonesia’s consistent performance as the host country in this year’s tournament, formerly known as the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Championship.
The team opened their campaign on Jul. 15 in Group A with a thumping 8-0 win over Brunei but struggled against the Philippines three days later but still won 1-0.
Indonesia held Malaysia in a goalless match last Monday and booked a semifinal spot facing Thailand.
Despite securing a place in the final, experts remain concerned about the Indonesian team’s ability to break down opponents’ defenses, as shown in last Friday’s match against Thailand.
“Our defense and midfield have been solid throughout the championship. But up front, our players often run out of ideas on how to score,” soccer analyst Weshley Hutagalung told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.
