Vietnam produced one of its most complete performances of the 2026 ASEAN Cup, defeating Indonesia 3-0 away from home to reclaim top spot in Group A, extend an unprecedented unbeaten run under head coach Kim Sang Sik, and move to the brink of the semi-finals.

The convincing victory also earned praise from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), while Indonesia head coach John Herdman admitted his side had been comprehensively outplayed.

Fast start lays foundation for commanding victory

tuyen viet nam indonesia 16.jpg
Vietnam celebrates a commanding 3-0 victory over Indonesia. Photos: Nam Trung and Phan Ich.

Vietnam took control from the opening whistle at Pakansari Stadium in Bogor.

Just six minutes into the match, midfielder Hoang Duc threaded a perfectly weighted pass to Van Vi, who calmly finished from a tight angle to give the visitors an early lead.

Less than 10 minutes later, Hai Long doubled Vietnam's advantage with an excellent individual effort after beating his defender before firing home.

Indonesia attempted to respond after the break but struggled to break down Vietnam's disciplined defense.

In the 71st minute, Hoang Duc delivered another decisive assist, setting up substitute Xuan Son to score the third goal and complete an emphatic 3-0 victory.

The win lifted Vietnam to seven points, moving above Singapore on goal difference and putting the defending champions in a commanding position to qualify for the knockout stage.

Vietnam will conclude its Group A campaign at home against Cambodia.

Kim Sang Sik praises players' spirit and tactical discipline

Speaking after the match, Kim Sang Sik expressed satisfaction with both the result and his players' determination.

"Playing away against Indonesia is always difficult, but the players gave everything and performed extremely well," he said. "Winning all three points makes me very happy. First of all, I want to thank the players for their commitment."

The South Korean coach also thanked Vietnamese supporters who traveled to Indonesia as well as fans watching from home.

Although Vietnam had been held to a goalless draw by Singapore in its previous match, Kim said the team responded impressively.

"Our players quickly regained their confidence and delivered a much better performance. I want to praise the team's fighting spirit."

He added that despite limited recovery time after the Singapore match, Vietnam maintained tactical discipline throughout the contest.

Changes made during the second half and the mobility of the forwards and wing players helped the team execute its game plan successfully.

Kim also singled out Tien Anh for praise, highlighting the wing-back's tireless work rate and his contribution in both attack and defense.

Asked jokingly about wearing a black shirt that appeared to bring good fortune, Kim laughed.

"I think I should throw away all my white shirts," he said.

Indonesia coach accepts deserved defeat

tuyen viet nam indonesia 10.jpg
AFC praised Vietnam's display after the victory over Indonesia. Photo: Nam Trung - Phan Ich

Indonesia coach John Herdman admitted his team had no complaints about the outcome.

"Congratulations to Vietnam," Herdman said. "It was a very difficult match for Indonesia. We didn't play well, while Vietnam played exceptionally well. They improved significantly after drawing with Singapore."

He apologized to Indonesian supporters for the disappointing performance while insisting his team would fight to keep its tournament alive.

"Our first goal against came far too easily within the opening 15 minutes. We wanted to attack but needed to transition better and control the game more effectively. We have to improve both tactically and mentally. There is still one match left, so we still have one opportunity," he said.

The defeat dropped Indonesia to third place in Group A, leaving Herdman's side needing a positive result against Singapore to keep its semi-final hopes alive.

AFC applauds Vietnam's display

Vietnam's performance also drew praise from the Asian Football Confederation.

On its official social media channels, AFC described the defending champions as showing composure and authority in one of the tournament's defining matches.

"Vietnam eased the pressure with a convincing victory over hosts Indonesia, demonstrating their strength and opening the door to the semi-finals. It was a composed performance as they continue their pursuit of another ASEAN Cup title," AFC wrote.

The continental governing body highlighted Vietnam's confident approach despite playing away from home and noted how the early goals from Van Vi and Hai Long set the tone before Xuan Son sealed the result after halftime.

Hoang Duc leads an outstanding team performance

Midfielder Hoang Duc was widely regarded as the standout performer.

The playmaker registered two assists while controlling the tempo of the match, escaping Indonesia's pressing and repeatedly launching dangerous counterattacks.

His commanding display anchored an excellent all-round team performance.

Goalkeeper Patrik Le Giang recorded his third consecutive clean sheet, while defenders Nguyen Xuan Manh, Bui Hoang Viet Anh, Thanh Chung and Tien Anh kept Indonesia's attack largely under control.

Van Vi impressed at both ends of the pitch after opening the scoring, while Hai Long not only found the net but also successfully neutralized Indonesia's creative midfielder Thom Haye for much of the match.

Substitute Xuan Son made an immediate impact by scoring Vietnam's third goal after entering midway through the second half.

Record unbeaten run under Kim Sang Sik

The victory extended Vietnam's unbeaten streak under Kim Sang Sik to 21 matches, comprising 18 wins and three draws.

According to Vietnamese football records, it is the longest unbeaten run ever achieved by the national team under a head coach, surpassing previous benchmarks set during earlier coaching eras.

Victory over Cambodia in the final group match would extend that record further and secure Vietnam's place in the semi-finals as the defending ASEAN Cup champions continue their title defense.

Match summary

Indonesia 0-3 Vietnam

Goals: Van Vi (6'), Hai Long (14'), Xuan Son (71')

Dai Nam - Duy Nguyen - Thien Binh