Going into the final match of Group B, Cambodia had one point, trailing Vietnam by two. They needed a win to advance to the semi-finals.

Cambodia put up a strong fight against Vietnam at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium. Gyotoku's team capitalized on a corner kick in the 62nd minute to equalize, making it 1-1. Goalkeeper Reth Ly Heng also performed well, along with the determined defense that thwarted several of Vietnam's dangerous attacks.

However, declining stamina and the difference in skill prevented them from leaving the field with even a draw.

Coach Koji Gyotoku attends the press conference after Vietnam's 2-1 victory over Cambodia in the final match of Group B of the 2025 AFF U23 Championship at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Indonesia, on 22/7/2025. Photo: Hai Tu

"I knew it would be very difficult from the start. The difference between Cambodia and Vietnam is vast," Gyotoku commented. "They are a much stronger team than us, with good organization and technically gifted players."

The coach, born in 1965, praised captain Khuat Van Khang, Nguyen Van Truong, right-back Vo Anh Quan, and forward Nguyen Dinh Bac. Van Khang's corner kick assisted Ly Duc's opening goal in the 35th minute, while Dinh Bac sealed the 2-1 victory in the 83rd minute. Both of Vietnam's goals were headers.

"Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia are the leading teams in Southeast Asia," Gyotoku said. "They once again demonstrated that in this AFF U23 Championship as top contenders for the title."

This is the second consecutive AFF U23 Championship where Cambodia failed to progress past the group stage. In 2019, they lost 5-3 to Thailand on penalties in the semi-finals, before losing 1-0 to Vietnam in the third-place match.

In September, Cambodia will host Group G of the 2026 AFF U23 Championship qualifiers, facing Oman, Pakistan, and Iraq. To qualify for the final tournament, Cambodia must finish first in their group or be among the four best second-placed teams.

"We were eliminated from the AFF U23 Championship group stage, but there are still many important tournaments to strive for," Gyotoku stated. "The players must run more, work harder, and be truly diligent."

Hieu Luong