Krishna Sadhana
Football Tribe SEA Editor
The men’s football tournament at the 2019 SEA Games came to an end last night, with the medal holders being decided in two separate matches at Manila’s Rizal Memorial Stadium. The early kick-off sees Myanmar getting bronze after edging Cambodia on penalties after a 2-2 draw after extra time, while in the final match of the tournament, Vietnam ended their 60-year wait for a gold medal after sweeping Indonesia aside 3-0. While South Vietnam had gotten the gold way back in 1959, last night’s triumph was Vietnam’s first ever gold medal in the SEA Games’ men’s football tournament as a unified nation.
Both Vietnam and Indonesia came into the final on the back of an excellent tournament – Vietnam are unbeaten in all of their 6 matches in the tournament so far, while Indonesia have won 5 out of their 6 matches – with their only sole defeat coming at the hands of Vietnam in the group stages. Both the Indonesian camp and their fans are excited for the match – as beating Vietnam would not only give them their first gold medal in the SEA Games’ men’s football tournament since 1991, but it will also serve as sweet revenge for that heartbreaking last-minute defeat that the Golden Dragons had inflicted on Garuda Muda earlier in the tournament.
Indonesia head coach Indra Sjafri went for a slightly altered yet still powerful starting lineup for the SEA Games final. Nadeo Argawinata safeguarded the goal as usual, with the defensive line of Asnawi Mangkualam, Andy Setyo, Bagas Adi Nugroho, and Firza Andika in front of him. The midfield engine has the trio of Sani Rizki Fauzi, Zulfiandi, and Evan Dimas, while leading the line for Indonesia is the attacking trio of Witan Sulaeman, Osvaldo Haay, and Saddil Ramdani, with Egy Maulana Vikri starting off from the bench. Meanwhile, Vietnam head coach Park Hang-seo also prepared a strong starting lineup. Despite being deprived of Nguyen Quang Hai due to injury, Coach Park nonetheless fielded a dangerous team with SC Heerenveen man Doan Van Hau marshaling the defense, while the attack has the deadly duo of SHB Da Nang’s very own Ha Duc Chinh and Becamex Binh Duong hitman Nguyen Tien Linh.
The match started off on equal footing with Indonesia managing to give their stronger opponents a decent fight. Sjafri’s boys showed no fear in taking on what is arguably the strongest team in Southeast Asia right now, with an early free-kick from Zulfiandi being easily saved by Vietnam goalie Nguyen Van Toan. However the tide of the game changed dramatically in the 20th minute. Evan was forced to end the game early due to a horror tackle from Van Hau, which was so severe, Evan had to be carted off the pitch on a wheelchair. Sjafri immediately replaced his stricken midfielder with Syahrian Abimanyu, however the damage has already been done.
During their first meeting in the group stages, Vietnam implemented a ball possession-based strategy that enabled them to build up their attacks patiently. In the final, however, Coach Park eschewed that patient strategy for a more direct, physical, and pressing approach, aiming to frustrate the Indonesian players as much as possible. The strategy meant that despite the chances that Indonesia got, Vietnam were able to limit Evan from supplying the ball to both Witan and Saddil, and with Evan off injured, that limited supply was shut-off completely as Sjafri was unable to formulate a backup plan soon enough.
That direct and physical approach paid dividends for Vietnam in the 39th minute. A foul from Asnawi outside the box resulted in a free-kick, which was taken by Do Hung Dung. Van Hau, which his tall posture, managed to out-jump both Andy and Bagas Adi to head in the opening goal of the match.
The first half ended with Vietnam holding the slender advantage over Indonesia.
During the half-time break, Sjafri decided to liven up the Indonesian attack by introducing Egy in Witan’s place. The changed improved Indonesia’s attack slightly, however Vietnam’s physical approach to the game prevented Indonesia from doing anything meaningful. The Golden Dragons soon added to their lead in the 59th minute. The Indonesian defense were unable to clear the ball properly, enabling Hung Dung to reach for the ball first. The Hanoi FC player wasted no time with a powerful shot that went beyond Nadeo’s reach to make it 2-0 Vietnam.
Stung by this, Sjafri introduces Muhammad Rafli to replace Sani Rizki Fauzi, allowing Osvaldo to retreat back to act as an attacking midfielder alongside Egy and Saddil, with Rafli acting as the spearhead in Indonesia’s new formation. However Vietnam kept their discipline on the back and frustrate Indonesia to no end, forcing a number of fouls from the Garuda Muda players. One of those fouls led to another free-kick in the 73rd minute.
Nguyen Hoang Duc launched a shot from his free-kick that was parried away by Nadeo, only for the ball to fall into the path of Van Hau. The Heerenveen defender proved himself as a scourge for Indonesia throughout the match, as he smashed in Vietnam’s third of the night.
With Indonesia 3-0 down and Vietnam intensifying their physical play, tensions inevitably flared up throughout the match. Coach Park was even sent off to the stands because he overly remonstrated a decision made by the referee.
With little time remaining, Indonesia intensified their attacks through the likes of Egy and Rafli, however both Van Toan and the Vietnamese defense did well to deny them any opportunity to claw one back. The scoreline remained at 3-0 to Vietnam until the referee blows for full time.
Despite the disappointing ending to their journey, Indonesia had done well throughout the 2019 SEA Games, reaching their first final in 6 years with the players doing all their could to make their country proud. However, both on paper and on the pitch, Vietnam has showed their capability of being Southeast Asia’s strongest team, and it was the Golden Dragons who took that all-important gold medal home.
As celebrations erupted in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Hoi An, Van Hau took the opportunity to apologize to Evan for his horrific tackle that had injured the Barito Putera player. However this doesn’t spare Van Hau from the abuse that he received on social media by angry Indonesian supporters, who stormed both Van Hau’s accounts and English-speaking Vietnamese football accounts on social media with a plethora of horrific and abusive comments aimed at both Van Hau and Vietnam in general. However the actions of a few do not constitute the many, and Indonesian supporters everywhere are proud at what their team has achieved throughout the tournament, from their shock 2-0 win over Southeast Asian powerhouses Thailand that kick-started their journey to that thrilling 4-2 victory over Myanmar that sent Garuda Muda to the SEA Games final. As the Indonesian senior national team continues to struggle on the international stage, the achievements of their age group national teams came as a fresh tonic in this football-mad nation, and with proper management from the federation and every stakeholder involved in Indonesian football, Indonesia may find themselves back on their feet as a Southeast Asian powerhouse once more, catching up with the likes of Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines.
Congratulations, Vietnam! And also well done, Indonesia!