Indonesian newspaper: Vietnam U22 vs Malaysia U22 will play to win.
Indonesian football club dismisses concerns about collusion: Vietnam U22 and Malaysia U22 both aim for first place in Group B to avoid Thailand U22; this match takes place before Indonesia - Myanmar.
Indonesian media ruled out the possibility of a "handshake and draw" between the Vietnam U22 and Malaysia U22 teams. According to Bola Indonesia, both teams have a clear objective: to win and secure first place in Group B at the SEA Games 33, rather than sharing points in order to eliminate Indonesia U22 after their 0-1 defeat against the Philippines U22.
There is no basis for a "settled" draw.
After U22 Indonesia lost 0-1 to U22 Philippines, the situation in Group B became tense as U22 Vietnam and U22 Malaysia both had 3 points. CNN Indonesia pointed out that a draw in the final match on December 11th would be enough for both to advance to the semi-finals, raising concerns about the competitiveness of the group.
However, Bola Indonesia emphasized that this concern is "unfounded." The newspaper wrote: "The U22 Malaysia and U22 Vietnam teams will face each other in the final match to determine the winner of Group B… A victory for either team will strengthen the chances of the U22 Indonesia team qualifying for the semi-finals of the 2025 SEA Games."
Tactical motivation: aiming for the top spot in the league.
Bola pointed out the direct benefit of finishing first in the group: if the Vietnam U22 team only draws, they will likely have to face the top team in Group A – predicted to be Thailand U22 – a real challenge. Conversely, finishing first in Group B makes the path easier.
Observer Toni Ho asserted: “I remain convinced that the U22 Malaysia and U22 Vietnam teams are not playing around just to get a draw… They definitely want to win in Group B to avoid facing U22 Thailand in the semi-finals.”
| The situation before the final round of Group B. | Main information |
|---|---|
| Vietnam U22 | 3 points; a draw would secure a place in the semi-finals, but there's a risk of facing the winner of Group A. |
| U22 Malaysia | 3 points; both aiming for first place in Group B. |
| Draw scenario | Both teams advance, putting U22 Indonesia at a disadvantage in terms of their chances. |
| The scenario has a winning team. | This opens up opportunities for the Indonesian U22 team, as argued by Bola Indonesia. |
Perspective from Indonesia: Belief in a Fair Play
Toni Ho analyzed the motivations of the Vietnam U22 team: “I think the Vietnam U22 team doesn't want to finish second. They calculated that facing the Philippines U22 team would be easier than facing the Thailand U22 team.” Conversely, the Malaysia U22 team also needs to assert its comeback amidst the pressure on Malaysian football from public opinion. Bola quoted Toni Ho as saying: “The 2025 SEA Games is an important task for Malaysia to restore its reputation… We know that Malaysian football is in decline due to incidents involving naturalized players.”
The ripple effect on Indonesia's opportunities.
One noteworthy detail: the U22 Vietnam - U22 Malaysia match takes place one day before the U22 Indonesia - U22 Myanmar match. This means U22 Indonesia will know whether they still have a chance to advance before taking to the field. “That’s right, the rest depends on the U22 Indonesia team… If they still have a chance, how will the U22 Indonesia team try to beat the U22 Myanmar team?”, Toni Ho stated.
Based on the above arguments, Indonesian media outlets have come to a general conclusion: there is no basis to believe that either the Vietnam U22 or Malaysia U22 teams will intentionally play for a draw. For Vietnam U22, finishing first in the group helps avoid the most difficult opponent in the tournament, Thailand U22. For Malaysia U22, victory is the only way to assert their character and restore their image.
The closing message
“U22 Malaysia and U22 Vietnam will definitely play to win… They won’t play for a draw,” Toni Ho’s words were quoted by Bola as a reassuring message to Indonesian fans and an affirmation of healthy competition ahead of the crucial match.
