Indonesia’s U-19 Progress Peaks with Win Over Vietnam

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia’s steady rise in form at the 2026 AFF U-19 Championship reached a new peak on Sunday, June 7, as the Young Garuda sealed a 2–1 victory over Vietnam to close out Group A.

Head coach Nova Arianto said the result reflected the team’s upward trajectory throughout the tournament. “Regardless of the scoreline, I’m pleased to see the players’ performance continue to improve,” Nova said after the match at the North Sumatra Main Stadium in Deli Serdang, Sunday.

The win secured Indonesia’s place in the semifinals of the regional tournament. Nova credited the progress shown by I Putu Panji Apriawan and his teammates since the opening match.

Indonesia began their Group A campaign with a 3–0 win over Myanmar, followed by another 3–0 victory against Timor-Leste, before delivering a decisive 2–1 result against Vietnam in the group decider.

“From the matches against Myanmar, Timor-Leste, and now Vietnam, the progress has been extraordinary,” he said.

Even so, Nova urged his squad to stay grounded. He emphasized the importance of maintaining performance levels as they prepare for the semifinal on Thursday, June 11.

Consistency and concentration, he added, will be the coaching staff’s main focus as Indonesia targets another win in the knockout stage. “We must be ready to face anyone in the semifinals,” Nova said. ***