Indonesia, 22 April 2026 – Vietnam U17 came from behind to defeat Australia U17 2–1 in the semi-final on April 22, setting up a rematch with Malaysia in the final of the 2026 AFF U17 Championship.
At Gelora Delta Stadium, two of the tournament’s most impressive teams delivered a high-quality contest. Both sides had been unbeaten and had not conceded in the group stage. Vietnam had scored 14 goals, just one fewer than Australia, highlighting the evenly matched nature of the clash.
Australia started strongly and took the lead early. In the 10th minute, after a swift move from defense, Luke Becvinovski fired a powerful left-footed shot into the top corner to make it 1–0. Despite conceding, coach Cristiano Roland’s players remained composed and gradually regained control, using their pace and technical ability to trouble the opposition.
Vietnam’s persistence paid off just before halftime. After a dramatic VAR review, Nguyen Manh Cuong headed in the rebound from a missed penalty to equalize at 1–1, bringing the game back to life.
In the second half, Vietnam continued to press and executed a well-worked set-piece in the 57th minute. A clever low pass from Nguyen Minh Thuy caught the Australian defense off guard, allowing Nguyen Luc to finish from close range and give Vietnam a 2–1 lead.
The remainder of the match saw Vietnam manage the tempo effectively, defending solidly while looking to counter-attack. Their discipline held firm under pressure, securing a crucial victory.
The win marks Vietnam’s second consecutive triumph over Australia in the tournament’s semi-finals and keeps their strong knockout record intact. They have now reached the final for the sixth time in their history.
Vietnam will face Malaysia in the final on April 24, after Malaysia defeated Laos 3–0 in the other semi-final. Australia will meet Laos in the third-place match on the same day.
VSN/RPT
Leave a Reply