Indonesia Miss AFF U-17 Semifinals After 0-0 Draw vs Vietnam

April 20, 2026 | 08:53 am

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – The coach of the Indonesian U-17 national team, Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto, stated that the goalless draw against Vietnam in the final Group A match of the 2026 AFF U-17 Cup will serve as an evaluation ahead of the U-17 Asia Cup. The match, held at Gelora Delta Stadium on Sunday night, April 19, 2026, resulted in a 0-0 draw, causing Indonesia to miss out on the semifinals and finish third in the group with four points.

Vietnam topped the standings with seven points, followed by Malaysia with six points. "We prepared a defensive game plan and counter-attack. But when we attempted to counter-attack, the results were not optimal, and this is something to note before we compete in the Asia Cup," Kurniawan said in a post-match press conference, as quoted from Antara.

He continued to appreciate the hard work of the players, especially in maintaining the defensive organization. This approach was chosen because Vietnam had displayed aggression in their previous two matches. According to Kurniawan, his team still needs to improve the transition from defense to attack. "When we play with five players at the back, the support up front is indeed less. So, we need to maximize the counter-attack," he said.

In response to criticism from the Vietnamese camp, hoping for a more open game, Kurniawan emphasized that the defensive strategy is part of the long-term preparation towards the Asia Cup. "We intentionally played with a defend-counter strategy. We waited for them in our own area and hoped to counter-attack," he said.

He added that the coaching staff would soon evaluate the squad composition to select the best 23 players from the initial list of 50 names. Three additional players, namely Matt Baker, Noah, and Mike, who play as goalkeepers, are also under consideration. "We will evaluate in the coming days to determine the best players," he said.

Match Highlights

Vietnam displayed discipline from the start of the match with a low defensive line while building attacks from the back. The first opportunity came in the fourth minute through a long shot by Nguyen Van Duong, which sailed over the crossbar guarded by Abdillah Ishak.

Three minutes later, Vietnam threatened again with a shot from Nguyen Ngoc Anh Hao, but Abdillah was alert in securing the ball. Indonesia tried to respond but struggled to create dangerous chances.

Entering the second half, Indonesia appeared more aggressive. An opportunity came in the 46th minute through a long-range shot by Peres Awkila, which missed the target. Vietnam responded through a counter-attack scheme, but their efforts also did not result in a goal.

The match opened up in the middle of the second half. Vietnam threatened several times, including through Nguyen Van Duong. However, the opportunity was once again denied by Abdillah, who consistently performed well under the bar.

Indonesia almost scored in the 80th minute through a throw-in to Farik Rizki, whose header was saved by Vietnam's goalkeeper, Ly Xuan Hoa. Until the final whistle, both teams failed to break the deadlock.

Indonesian goalkeeper Abdillah Ishak, who made several outstanding saves, stated that he played freely after being entrusted by the coach. "I played freely because I was given trust, and I didn't want to embarrass this country," he said.

He added that he would continue to improve his abilities through training and trials. "The most crucial thing is the trust from the coach, so I have to work hard during training," he said.

Vietnam's Response and Semifinal Schedule

Vietnam U-17 coach, Cristiano Rocha, admitted to being surprised by Indonesia's defensive approach. "I was a bit surprised when I saw Indonesia just waiting. I thought they would change their strategy in the second half, but it remained the same," he said.

Nevertheless, he assessed that his team was able to adapt and maintain control of the game. He considered the draw sufficient to secure their position in the standings. "We managed to secure one point to remain in a good position. That is very important," Rocha said.

In the semifinal round, Laos will face Malaysia on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at 15:30 WIB at Gelora Delta Stadium. Laos advanced as the Group B champion, while Malaysia finished as the runner-up in Group A.

In another match, Vietnam will meet Australia at 19:30 WIB at the same stadium. Vietnam progressed as the Group A champion, while Australia is the Group C champion. The winners of the two semifinal matches will meet in the final on April 24, while the losing teams will compete for third place.

Read: Indonesia Falls 0-1 to Malaysia in AFF U-17 Championship

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