Hero of U.23 Vietnam: Rising from defeat in Indonesia

Nguyen Cong Phuong's only goal helped U.23 Vietnam defeat U.23 Indonesia right at the fiery Gelora Bung Karno on the evening of July 29, bringing home the third consecutive Southeast Asian championship. But three years ago, also in the archipelago country, the 19-year-old midfielder was in tears because of the sadness of losing the final match.

The winning goal

In the 37th minute of the 2025 Southeast Asian U.23 final match between U.23 Vietnam and host U.23 Indonesia, when the two teams were in a tense tug-of-war, Nguyen Cong Phuong made a difference. From a corner kick, the midfielder born in 2006 made a decisive shot, scoring against Indonesia, to the amazement of thousands of home team fans.

This was the goal that brought the championship, helping U.23 Vietnam complete a hat-trick of Southeast Asian championships (2022, 2023, 2025). A moment that ignited the emotions of millions of Vietnamese football lovers, and also the moment Nguyen Cong Phuong stepped into the light, considered the hero of the team.

Nguyen Cong Phuong, born in 2006, is one of the "youngest" of U.23 Vietnam in this tournament - PHOTO: NGUYEN KHANG

Nguyen Cong Phuong was born in 2006 in Hai Duong . He joined the youth training center of The Cong Viettel since he was a boy. At the age of 17, Phuong was promoted to the first team of the army team to compete in the V-League season 2023 - 2024. By the 2024 - 2025 season, this 1.77 m tall young player had nearly 19 appearances in the V-League, becoming a strategic reserve of The Cong Viettel.

Cong Phuong has a slim body but has an intelligent playing style and can play many positions in midfield. Cong Phuong is highly appreciated for his smooth technique, good tactical thinking and especially his tenacity.

Indonesian fans take photos and ask for autographs from U.23 Vietnam at the airport

Tears in Indonesia and a proud return

Today’s success of Cong Phuong becomes even more special when looking back at the memory of three years ago. Also on Indonesian soil, also in a Southeast Asian final, at the U.16 level, captain Nguyen Cong Phuong and his teammates fell to the home team.

After the defeat, Cong Phuong was silent, his eyes red, sadly watching his opponent lift the championship trophy. That was the first moment in a young player’s life when he knew the pain of defeat, and it was deeply imprinted in Cong Phuong’s memory.

However, instead of being defeated, Cong Phuong used that pain as motivation to rise up. From a "youngest son" in the U.23 Vietnam team competing in the U.23 Southeast Asia tournament 2025, he gradually won the trust of coach Kim Sang-sik. And when facing his fateful regional opponent, Indonesia, in the final match, Cong Phuong appeared in the starting lineup. Not letting down the coaching staff, he scored the decisive goal, erasing the sad memories of that year and lighting up the brilliant gold cup for U.23 Vietnam.

Cong Phuong scores a golden goal, U.23 Vietnam wins the Southeast Asian championship for the third time

The journey with U.23 Vietnam at the U.23 Southeast Asia tournament this time has marked a big step forward in Nguyen Cong Phuong's career. The midfielder from Hai Duong is only 19 years old and certainly has a bright future waiting for him. But in the near future, he needs to continue to make efforts to appear in the 2026 U.23 Asian qualifiers and SEA Games 33, the more important goals of Vietnamese football this year.

Watch the full U.23 Southeast Asian Football Championship Mandiri Cup™ 2025 live onFPT Play, visit http://fptplay.vn

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nguoi-hung-cua-u23-viet-nam-dung-len-tu-that-bai-ngay-tai-indonesia-185250730131046866.htm