Indonesia U-17 Exit AFF 2026 After Draw with Vietnam

RRI.CO.ID, Sidoarjo - Indonesia’s hopes of reaching the semifinals of the AFF U-17 Championship 2026 came to an end after a goalless draw against Vietnam in their final Group A match at Gelora Delta Stadium, Sidoarjo, East Java, on Sunday night, April 19, 2026.

Vietnam, disciplined in defense and sharp on the counterattack, frustrated Indonesia throughout the first half, Antara reported.

Early chances fell to Nguyen Van Duong and Nguyen Ngoc Anh Hao, but goalkeeper Abdillah Ishak stood firm. Indonesia attempted to respond with a more open style of play, yet struggled to create clear opportunities.

The second half saw Indonesia push harder, with Peres Awkila firing wide from distance and Girly Andrade testing Vietnam’s defense. Vietnam continued to threaten through quick transitions, but Ishak remained consistent in goal.

Indonesia’s best chance came in the 80th minute when Pandu Aryo’s header from a Farik Rizki throw-in was denied by Vietnam’s keeper Ly Xuan Hoa.

The stalemate left Vietnam top of the group with seven points, while Malaysia secured second place with six points after defeating Timor Leste 2-0. Indonesia finished third with four points, falling short of the semifinal stage.

For coach Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto’s squad, the result was a disappointment after showing promise earlier in the tournament. Still, the team’s resilience against Vietnam highlighted areas of growth as Indonesia continues to build its youth football program. ***