Taif, April 4, 2025 – U17 Vietnam kicked off their AFC U17 Asian Cup 2025 campaign with an impressive performance, securing a 1-1 draw against a highly fancied U17 Australia in their Group B opener on April 4 in Saudi Arabia. Under coach Cristiano Roland, the young Vietnamese side earned their first point, displaying grit and flair against a tougher opponent.
Facing U17 Australia at Prince Saud bin Jalawi Stadium at 10:00 p.m. Vietnam time, U17 Vietnam started with confidence, matching the “Young Socceroos” blow-for-blow in the early stages. Coach Roland’s squad held their own, crafting a balanced contest. However, from the 20th minute, Australia asserted dominance. In the 26th minute, a penalty was awarded after Dau Hong Phong’s clash in the box, but Quinn MacNicol’s spot-kick crashed off the crossbar and bounced out.
Australia’s pressure paid off in the 41st minute. After a midfield turnover, MacNicol surged through the center and unleashed a fierce right-footed strike past goalkeeper Hoa Xuan Tin, giving the Aussies a 1-0 lead at halftime. U17 Vietnam nearly unraveled early in the second half when Anastasio’s 46th-minute effort rattled the bar, but the Golden Stars responded with purpose, pushing forward to level the score.
Their persistence bore fruit in the 49th minute. Nguyen Van Bach’s headed assist found Hoang Trong Duy Khang, who rifled a shot into the net, restoring parity at 1-1. The equalizer sparked a back-and-forth battle, with both sides trading attacks. In the closing minutes, Roland’s charges carved out clear chances—most notably a late surge led by Tran Tan Dung—but couldn’t find the winner. The match ended 1-1, a valuable result against a continental heavyweight.
Coach Roland praised his team’s resilience: “We stood tall and fought back. This point sets us up well.” U17 Vietnam’s next test comes against U17 Japan at 10:00 p.m. on April 7, a clash that will further gauge their mettle in a stacked Group B, which also includes U17 UAE. With Hoang Trong Duy Khang’s spark and a solid team effort, Vietnam eyes a knockout berth—and a 2025 FIFA U17 World Cup spot—last achieved in 2016.
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