Despite conceding early, the young Vietnamese side showed remarkable composure. Australia applied pressure from the opening minutes, with a dangerous header from Miles Edward in the third minute before Luke Becvinovski opened the scoring in the 11th minute with a well-taken finish.

Vietnam gradually settled into the match, regaining control and creating chances. The turning point came late in the first half when Dai Nhan was fouled inside the penalty area. Although the penalty was not converted, Manh Cuong reacted quickest to head home the rebound, leveling the score at 1-1 just before the break.

In the second half, Vietnam played with growing confidence. In the 60th minute, a well-rehearsed set-piece saw Nguyen Luc finish decisively to give his side a 2-1 lead. Australia pushed forward relentlessly in the closing stages, but Vietnam’s defense held firm to secure a memorable victory.

Speaking after the match, Cristiano Roland expressed both pride and caution.

“I am very happy with this result. It reflects the thorough preparation from the coaching staff and the players. Even after conceding early, the team remained confident and mentally strong,” he said.

According to the Brazilian coach, patience and discipline were key to the comeback.

“We stayed calm and patient in our approach. That was the key to turning the game around against a very strong opponent like Australia. I want to thank the players and staff for their fighting spirit. This is a well-deserved victory.”

The win not only sends Vietnam into the final but also marks a significant milestone. Since taking charge, Roland has guided the team to 15 consecutive unbeaten matches across official competitions, with nine wins and six draws. During this run, Vietnam have scored 52 goals while conceding just five.

The streak began during the qualifiers for the 2025 AFC U17 Championship and continued through the finals that year, where Vietnam held strong opponents such as Australia, UAE and Japan to draws in the group stage.

In the 2026 AFC U17 qualifiers, the team won all five matches, scoring 30 goals without conceding. At the ongoing Southeast Asian tournament, Vietnam remain unbeaten after four matches, recording three wins and one draw, scoring 16 goals and conceding just once. This is an unprecedented achievement for a Vietnamese youth team, reflecting the effectiveness of long-term investment from the national federation and domestic clubs.

In the final, Vietnam will face Malaysia once again, a team they defeated 4-0 in the group stage. However, Roland is wary of complacency.

“We still have a very important match ahead. We must maintain full focus and prepare in the best possible way. Malaysia will come into the final with a completely different mindset and form. We cannot afford to be complacent.”

The championship match between Vietnam U17 and Malaysia U17 is scheduled to kick off at 19:30 on April 24.

Beyond the final, attention is already turning to the 2026 AFC U17 Championship, with hopes that this promising generation can continue their remarkable run and potentially open the door to a place at the U17 World Cup.

Dai Nam - Thien Binh