Malaysia U19 Futsal National Team secured third place at the ASEAN U19 Boys’ Futsal Championship 2025 after edging Vietnam 4-3 on penalties, following a thrilling 2-2 draw after 40 minutes at the Nonthaburi PAO Gymnasium, Nonthaburi, on Wednesday.
Vietnam struck first in the 5th minute through Nguyen Truong Hoang Long, capitalising on an early opening to take a 1-0 lead into half-time.
Malaysia returned from the break with renewed urgency, pushing aggressively in search of an equaliser. Despite creating several clear chances, the young Harimau Malaya struggled to find a breakthrough as Vietnam’s defence stood firm.
With four minutes remaining, Malaysia head coach Rakphol Sainetngam made a bold tactical call by deploying Adam Rayyan as a power play option. The decision paid off in the 37th minute, when sustained pressure allowed Iqbal Hazim to sneak a finish past the near post, levelling the score at 1-1.
Drama intensified in the closing moments. Vietnam regained the lead in the final minute via Nguyen Thac Hieu, seemingly putting one hand on the podium finish. However, Malaysia refused to surrender. With just 10 seconds left, Adam Rayyan once again stepped up as the power-play player, firing home a crucial equaliser to make it 2-2 and force a penalty shoot-out.
The shoot-out proved just as tense. Both teams missed their opening attempts, but Malaysia showed greater composure when it mattered most. Vietnam failed on their fifth penalty, opening the door for Aidil Fazrez, who calmly converted to seal a 4-3 penalty shoot-out victory for Malaysia.
The win ensured Malaysia finished the tournament on a high note, earning third place and underlining the fighting spirit and mental resilience of Rakphol’s young squad.
Credit Photo : FAM
