Indonesia U-17 Falls to Malaysia in ASEAN Cup, Eyes Recovery Against Vietnam

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Indonesian U-17 squad suffered a narrow 0-1 defeat to Malaysia in their second Group A match of the ASEAN U-17 Boys Championship 2026, held at Gelora Joko Samudro Stadium in Gresik, East Java, on Thursday, April 16.

The loss leaves the Garuda Muda, coached by Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto, under pressure to regroup ahead of their next crucial fixture against Vietnam. Kurniawan acknowledged the setback as a valuable lesson for his young team.

“We created many chances, but our finishing still needs improvement. This will be an important evaluation before facing Vietnam,” he said during the post-match press conference, as quoted by Antara.

He added that decision-making and basic accuracy also fell short, stressing the need to cut down on fundamental errors that can cost the team.

The former national striker emphasized discipline and focus as key to executing the game plan, particularly against opponents with tight defensive setups. “Against Malaysia, we anticipated the low block and counterattacks, but mistakes occurred that must be corrected for the next match,” he explained.

Team captain Putu Ekayana expressed disappointment with the result but praised his teammates’ determination. “It’s very disappointing, but we fought as hard as we could,” he said.

Putu insisted the defeat would not dampen morale, instead serving as motivation to bounce back. He pointed to the second half against Malaysia, where Indonesia dominated possession and sought an equalizer despite conceding early. “Even after the goal, we didn’t feel down; we kept pushing to respond,” he noted.

Looking ahead, Putu vowed that the team will give their utmost against Vietnam to keep their hopes alive in the tournament. He urged fans to continue their support. “We will reflect and improve before the next match. Please keep us in your prayers and support us so we can perform better and regain confidence.” ***