Vietnam closed their Group A campaign as leaders following a goalless draw against hosts Indonesia. The result was enough to secure top spot, though the match unfolded differently from expectations.

“We anticipated that U17 Indonesia would apply strong pressure because they needed a win to advance. We prepared for that scenario. But they chose to defend instead,” Cristiano Roland said.

“Even in the second half, I thought they might change their approach, but they continued with the same strategy. That surprised me. What matters is that our players understood the situation and adapted well,” he added.

Prior to the draw, U17 Vietnam recorded convincing victories over Malaysia (4-0) and Timor Leste (10-0). Although they failed to score in the final group match, their overall performance ensured progression to the semifinals.

In the match against Indonesia, Vietnam started confidently, controlling possession and creating several notable chances. Van Duong stood out with dangerous attempts, including an early long-range shot and a setup for Minh Thuy, though neither resulted in a goal.

The midfield maintained stability, allowing the team to dictate the tempo despite pressure from the home crowd. In the second half, Indonesia pushed forward in search of a decisive goal but struggled against Vietnam’s disciplined defense and lacked precision in the final third.

The 0-0 result confirmed Vietnam’s place at the top of the group, while Indonesia were eliminated after failing to secure the required victory.

Elsewhere, Malaysia defeated Timor Leste 2-0 to advance as the best second-placed team, with goals from Aniq Thaqif and Adam Haikal. Laos had earlier delivered a major surprise by defeating Thailand 3-2 to top Group B.

The semifinal lineup is now set, with U17 Vietnam facing U17 Australia, while U17 Malaysia take on the tournament’s surprise package, U17 Laos. Both matches are scheduled for April 22, with Vietnam’s clash kicking off at 7:30pm, following the earlier semifinal between Malaysia and Laos at 3:30pm.

Australia enter the semifinal in strong form, having won all three group matches against Brunei, Singapore and Cambodia without conceding a goal. Their physical strength and fitness present a significant challenge for Vietnam.

“U17 Vietnam are making the best preparations for the semifinal. Australia are a very strong opponent, so we need to recover quickly and stay fully focused,” Cristiano Roland emphasized.

The upcoming encounter is expected to test Vietnam’s resilience as they aim to continue their impressive run in the tournament. 
 
 Dai Nam