Southeast Asian Fans: 'Does Vietnam really like giving opponents a 2-goal advantage that much?'

Vietnam U16 narrowly escaped defeat against Indonesia, and the reaction from Southeast Asian fans on social media after the match was equally intense.

The 2-2 draw between Vietnam U16 and Indonesia U16 in the opening match of AFF Futsal U16 2025 was not only significant competitively but also sparked heated debates among regional fans. With both teams continuously chasing the score and the outcome decided in the final seconds, fans’ emotions were pushed to the limit.

For most of the game, Indonesia U16 controlled the pace. They started confidently after their victory over Myanmar and were energized by Indonesia futsal’s success at the SEA Games. Muh Alfayyadh Rafarrel’s two goals put Indonesia ahead 2-0, leading many fans to believe the win was secured for the archipelago team.

However, Vietnam U16’s strong comeback in the second half completely changed the scenario. Nguyễn Bá Mạnh’s goal to reduce the deficit and the decision to play power play in the closing minutes demonstrated the red team’s commendable resilience. The moment Bùi Gia Bảo scored the equalizer with only 33 seconds left caused Southeast Asian fans to “erupt”.

On regional football forums, many acknowledged the fairness of the result. One fan commented: “The result fairly reflects the true strength of both teams.”Meanwhile, several Indonesian fans expressed regret over losing the victory at the decisive moment, even exclaiming: “What the heck happened in the last minute? There were only seconds left, Vietnam was just too lucky.”

Besides the disappointment, there were also positive and optimistic reactions. An Indonesian fan shared: “Losing points at the last moment is unfortunate, but it’s okay, Indonesia will be stronger in the upcoming matches.” Some humorous comments teased Vietnam’s competitive spirit: “Does Vietnam really like giving opponents a 2-goal handicap that much?”

Notably, many neutral fans viewed this draw as a miniature representation of the region’s futsal future. A widely supported comment stated: “This is a glimpse of the future top Asian teams, best of luck to both sides!” With the point earned against a strong opponent, Vietnam U16 clearly sent a notable message at AFF Futsal U16 2025.