Vietnam U17 to face defending champions Australia U17 in the semi-finals, hosts Indonesia eliminated
Vietnam U17 finished top of Group A at the 2026 ASEAN U17 Championship, securing a place in the semi-finals where they will face defending champions Australia U17. Meanwhile, hosts Indonesia were eliminated in the group stage.
20/04/2026 14:21:47
Before the final round of matches, Vietnam U17 topped Group A with six points, three points ahead of Indonesia and Malaysia. With this advantage, coach Cristiano Roland’s side only needed a draw to secure qualification as group winners, and would only be eliminated in the unlikely event of a heavy defeat.
Entering the match with a proactive approach, the Vietnam U17 coaching staff continued to rotate the squad. Compared to the 10-0 win over Timor-Leste, the team made three changes but still maintained a stable core, including goalkeeper Ly Xuan Hoa, captain Nguyen Huynh Dang Khoa, and key players such as Nguyen Luc and Le Trong Dai Nhan.
Despite strong pressure from the home crowd, Vietnam U17 maintained their composure, organized a solid defense, and did not allow Indonesia to create any truly dangerous chances. Moreover, they were the side that produced more notable attempts on goal.
In the 23rd minute, Van Duong fired a low shot that forced the Indonesian goalkeeper into a difficult save. Before the end of the first half, the forward had another opportunity inside the box, but his effort went wide.
In the second half, Vietnam U17 continued to hold the upper hand against the hosts. In the 53rd minute, from a cross on the left flank, Nguyen Luc had a close-range chance but failed to beat the goalkeeper. In the remaining time, neither side was able to make a breakthrough, and the match ended goalless.
However, the 0-0 draw was enough for Vietnam U17 to secure top spot in Group A with seven points, while also keeping a clean sheet throughout the group stage. Earlier, they recorded convincing wins of 4-0 against Malaysia and 10-0 against Timor-Leste, underlining their strong form.
This marks the fourth consecutive time Vietnam U17 have advanced past the group stage in the regional tournament. In contrast, Indonesia were eliminated at the group stage for the first time after four consecutive appearances at this stage.
According to the schedule, in the semi-finals on April 22, Vietnam U17 will face Australia U17 – Group C winners and the defending champions. The other semi-final will see Laos (Group B winners) take on Malaysia, who advanced as the best second-placed team.
