BOGOR, Indonesia -- Ahead of Monday's ASEAN Championship Group A clash at Pakansari Stadium, it looked like the tables were turning between hosts Indonesia and visiting Vietnam.
Indonesia had cruised to victories in their opening two matches, scoring eight goals and conceding just one -- albeit in games against Cambodia and Timor-Leste that they had been expected to comfortably get through.
Meanwhile, Vietnam -- after a dominant opening win over the Timorese -- hit a real bump in the road when they were held to a 0-0 draw at home to Singapore last time out.
The Indonesians have made huge strides not just within Southeast Asia, but on the bigger continental front, over the past few years. A first ASEAN Championship crown -- after six runners-up finishes -- was looking a realistic prospect. If that was to be the case, it would come at the cost of Vietnam's quest to go back-to-back.
But following an enthralling 90 minutes in Bogor, the status quo was restored -- at least for now.
With a masterclass devised by coach Kim Sang-Sik, Vietnam pulled off a remarkable 3-0 win to leave Indonesia absolutely stunned.
The hosts finished the match with 58% possession. That figure barely mattered. Vietnam clinically took their chances when it mattered and completely denied their opposition any clear-cut opportunities with a disciplined defensive display.
Even when the vociferous home fans looked like they might be a factor, especially when they did not even wait for the game to start to loudly jeer the visitors when their team was announced pre-match, they were duly silenced just six minutes into the contest.
Indonesia partially had themselves to blame as they gave away possession deep inside their own half following a failed attempt to play out from the back. In a flash, a lovely passing move saw Vietnam break the deadlock.
Having pounced on a heavy touch by Rizky Ridho, Nguyễn Hai Long's probing pass from the left found Nguyễn Hoàng Đức, who -- in an instant -- unlocked the Indonesia defence with a slide-rule pass that was timed perfectly into the path of an overlapping Nguyễn Văn Vĩ.
Although Văn Vĩ almost had no angle to work with, he took a chance that opposition goalkeeper Nadeo Argawinata would expect a cross -- and his gamble paid off as he squeezed a shot in at the now-unguarded near post.
Just eight minutes later, the Vietnamese doubled their advantage through a sweeping counterattack.
It was down the left where they again enjoyed plenty of joy, this time with Hai Long somehow being allowed the entire wing to race through from the halfway line and finish with Nadeo once again leaving too much space at his near side -- although, in his defence, there was little else he could have done in the one-on-one situation after being left completely exposed.
Indonesia were now in desperate need of a response if they were to salvage anything out of the contest yet struggled to create any meaningful passages of play, as Vietnam carried out Kim's plan to perfection in repelling any hopeful ball that was being sent into the area.
What made Vietnam's display even more remarkable was the fact that Kim had opted to leave out talismanic captain Nguyễn Quang Hải and main scorer Rafaelson from his starting XI.
Both were eventually introduced and it was Rafaelson who would seal the victory with 19 minutes remaining, raced through on goal and making no mistake in sliding a shot past the onrushing Nadeo after being set up by Hoàng Đức's enterprising charge through the middle and visionary release pass.
Just a few days ago, it looked as though Vietnam's title defence was faltering. Now they are firmly back on track and once again looking like the team to beat.
And for all the pomp from their previous results, Indonesia have failed the first real test they encountered at the tournament. They must pass the next -- away to Singapore on Friday in a winner-takes-all clash -- or their hopes of becoming champions of Southeast Asia for the first time will again be over, for another two years at least.
