The match, held in Indonesia, saw Vietnam overcome a rocky opening to secure all three points in what head coach Diego Giustozzi described as “the hardest kind of first match.”

Kuwait struck early, capitalizing on Vietnam’s midfield and defensive errors. Abdullah Thamer opened the scoring in the 6th minute, followed by a second goal from Borashed just two minutes later, putting Kuwait 2–0 ahead.

Vietnam quickly responded.

In the 9th minute, Chau Doan Phat pulled one back for Vietnam with a sharp finish. Ten minutes later, Thinh Phat leveled the score at 2–2, before Kuwait briefly retook the lead with a goal from Alshatti in the 18th.

But in the final seconds of the first half, Minh Quang found the net to equalize once more, sending the teams into halftime at 3–3.

The second half saw Vietnam grow more confident.

Minh Quang added his second of the match in the 30th minute, giving Vietnam their first lead at 4–3. Just one minute later, captain Nguyen Manh Dung struck from close range to extend the lead to 5–3.

Kuwait mounted late pressure with a power-play setup and managed a goal through Alsarraj in the 38th minute. But Vietnam held firm in the final moments to seal a dramatic and valuable opening win.

Head coach Diego Giustozzi, speaking after the match, praised his team’s resilience and tactical maturity, especially in the second half.

“In the first 10–15 minutes, we struggled with the ball and the surface. But the second half was excellent. The difference came from composure and experience,” the Argentine manager said.

“This is the first AFC tournament for eight of our players. Matches like this are vital for them to grow. We need more games at this level.”

Looking ahead, Vietnam will face Lebanon in their next group match.

“Lebanon plays a deep defensive game and relies on counterattacks. It won’t be easy, but we are ready for any opponent. The target remains the same: win the next match,” Giustozzi affirmed. 
Scorers:

Vietnam: Chau Doan Phat (9’), Nguyen Thinh Phat (16’), Minh Quang (20’, 30’), Nguyen Manh Dung (31’)
Kuwait: Abdullah Thamer (6’), Borashed (8’), Alshatti (18’), Alsarraj (38’)

Vietnam starting lineup: Pham Van Tu, Chau Doan Phat, Nguyen Manh Dung, Nguyen Thinh Phat, Dinh Cong Vien

Next match: Vietnam vs Lebanon – Group B, AFC Futsal Asian Cup 2026

Thien Binh