Thailand began Group C play with a 4-0 victory over Timor Leste. However, a 0-0 draw against Myanmar in their final group match drew criticism from fans. In Group A, Indonesia also started strong with an 8-0 win over Brunei. But they then edged out the Philippines 1-0 thanks to an own goal and drew 0-0 with Malaysia.
Indonesia has recently dominated Thailand at the U23 level. They won 3-1 in the semifinals of the 2023 Southeast Asian U23 Championship and 5-2 in the final of the 32nd SEA Games.
 |
The Thailand U23 team practices on the evening of 23/7/2025. Photo: FAT |
The Thailand U23 team practices on the evening of 23/7/2025. Photo: FAT
Around 2,700 spectators watched Indonesia play Brunei at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, but attendance steadily increased to 8,400 and then 27,000 for their next two matches. An even larger crowd is expected for the semifinal. The winner of this match will face Vietnam in the final on the evening of 29/7. The loser will play in the third-place match on the evening of 28/7.
Vy Anh
