Mai Duc Chung: The Vietnamese women's national team will beat Indonesia in the semi-finals.
Coach Mai Duc Chung respects Indonesia's progress with four naturalized players and their long-ball style of play, but affirms that Vietnam will press and coordinate to aim for victory. The semi-final match will take place at 4:00 PM on December 14th in Chonburi.
"Even though our opponents have many naturalized players, I believe Vietnam will win." Coach Mai Duc Chung's confident statement sets the tone for the SEA Games 33 semi-final match between the Vietnam women's national team and the Indonesia women's national team, taking place at 4:00 PM on December 14th at the National Sports University Stadium in Chonburi.
Respect your competitors, but maintain your own identity.
At a press conference on the afternoon of December 13th, the 74-year-old coach acknowledged Indonesia's progress: "Indonesia is a team that is improving rapidly... They had never reached the semi-finals of the SEA Games before." Compared to their encounter at the AFF Cup in Hai Phong, he emphasized that Indonesia "has changed a lot," especially "the naturalized players have brought new energy."
However, Vietnam did not change their playing style. “We don’t play long balls, we only play combination play.” That was the clear tactical message: staying true to triangular passing, prioritizing short passes, rhythmic play, and proactively controlling key spaces.
Tactical approach: pressing under pressure with long balls.
According to coach Mai Duc Chung, Indonesia has made six substitutions, including four naturalized players. He predicts that the opponent will "play long balls and be good at heading" – a challenge in both aerial duels and direct challenges. In response, Vietnam will "press," block passing lanes early, forcing Indonesia to react under pressure and limiting their ability to exploit their physical advantage.
In that structure, discipline between the lines – from covering after contested situations to organizing transitions – is key. When not relying on long balls, Vietnam needs one-touch passing to escape pressing and stretch Indonesia's formation, especially in the flanks between full-backs and center-backs, where long balls often fall.
Mindset and preparation
When asked about concerns regarding Indonesia's naturalized players, Coach Mai Duc Chung replied: "Even though we're facing a strong opponent, no less formidable than the Philippines, with many foreign players returning from abroad, with the spirit, will, and determination of the whole team... our players will know how to maximize their collective strength and thoroughly exploit the qualities they already possess."
Captain Pham Hai Yen shared about the preparation: "The coaching staff always gives us many instructions and makes thorough preparations, always instilling the spirit so that we are ready to take to the field with the determination to win."
Key facts
- Time and location: 4:00 PM on December 14th, National Sport University Stadium, Chonburi.
- Indonesian personnel: According to coach Mai Duc Chung, they have replaced 6 players, including 4 naturalized players.
- Context: According to the coach, Indonesia had never reached the SEA Games semi-finals before; however, they are currently showing progress and renewed energy thanks to personnel additions.
- Vietnam's plan: avoid long balls, focus on coordination and pressing to neutralize the opponent's long passes and aerial prowess.
Match information
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Match pair | Vietnam Women's National Team vs Indonesia Women's National Team |
| Round | SEA Games 33 Semifinals |
| Time | 4:00 PM on December 14th |
| Location | National Sport University Stadium, Chonburi |
Respecting the opponent, being clear in their intentions, and placing faith in collective strength – the message from the technical area has been established. The rest is up to the 90 minutes in Chonburi, where Vietnam needs to execute the right coordination and pressing intensity to turn belief into a ticket to the final.
