Vietnam U19 is confident of defeating Myanmar U19 in its second Group A match and securing an early place in the semifinals of the 2026 ASEAN U19 Championship.

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Vietnam U19 made an encouraging start to the tournament.

Vietnam U19 enjoyed a positive start to its 2026 ASEAN U19 Championship campaign with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Timor-Leste U19. However, head coach Yutaka Ikeuchi still had several concerns about his team's overall performance.

First, despite dominating possession and creating numerous chances, only one forward - Cong Hau - found the net, scoring all three goals. The performance suggested that Vietnam U19's attack may still rely heavily on one or two key players, lacking greater variety and unpredictability in its offensive approach.

In addition, Timor-Leste U19 was widely considered the weakest team in the group, meaning the result alone does not provide a complete assessment of Vietnam U19's true strength. The team's limitations may become more apparent when facing stronger opposition.

Nevertheless, a convincing opening-day victory carries significant value. Beyond securing three important points, it has given coach Yutaka Ikeuchi's side a psychological boost heading into its second Group A fixture against Myanmar U19. While the challenge is expected to be tougher, the odds still favor Cong Hau and his teammates.

Myanmar U19 suffered a 3-0 defeat to host nation Indonesia U19 in its opening match. Surprisingly, Myanmar controlled much of the game during the first half, but after conceding the opening goal, the young side made a series of costly mistakes and gradually lost confidence.

All three goals conceded by Myanmar stemmed from defensive lapses and poor responses to counterattacks. Those weaknesses could provide Vietnam U19 with valuable opportunities in the upcoming encounter.

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Vietnam U19 is determined to defeat Myanmar and secure a place in the semifinals.

Alongside careful preparation and analysis of its opponent, Vietnam U19 must also focus on its own strengths. The team's short-passing combinations and fluid build-up play need to be executed more effectively, while set-piece situations could remain an important weapon.

Most notably, after scoring a hat-trick in the opening match, Cong Hau is certain to attract close attention from Myanmar's defenders. That could create space for other Vietnam U19 forwards such as Van Bach and Thien Phu to make decisive contributions.

In other words, Cong Hau could be assigned a decoy role, drawing defenders away and creating opportunities for teammates to attack the penalty area and finish off the opposition.

Dai Nam