Dramatic win over Vietnam U19, Indonesia U19 selects opponent for semifinals

Indonesia U19 has officially booked a place in the semifinals of the 2026 ASEAN U19 Championship in a thrilling manner.

Indonesia U19 defeated Vietnam U19 2-1 in the final match of Group A held at Stadion Utama Sumatra Utara on Sunday evening, June 7, 2026.

This victory allowed Nova Arianto's squad to finish top of Group A with a perfect 9 points after three matches. That result also means Indonesia becomes one of the four teams in the semifinals of the 2026 ASEAN U19 Championship.

The match against Vietnam U19 was tense and pressure-filled until the final minutes. Indonesia had fallen into a difficult situation before securing the win thanks to a penalty goal by Evandra Florasta in stoppage time.

Reaching the semifinals keeps Indonesia U19's hopes alive of defending the title they won in the 2024 edition. However, tougher challenges await Indonesia U19 in the knockout stage.

Although already guaranteed a semifinal spot, Indonesia U19 still has to wait for results from other groups to determine their next opponent. As of now, there are still two possible scenarios.

In the recent match against Vietnam U19, Indonesia U19 opened the scoring through a goal by Reno Salampessy in the 12th minute. This goal boosted their confidence throughout the first half.

Vietnam U19 did not give up and continuously sought chances to equalize. Their efforts paid off in the 74th minute when Quốc Khánh scored with a header, bringing the match back to a 1-1 draw.

The draw had threatened Indonesia U19's position. If the match had ended in a stalemate, Vietnam U19 would have had a chance to take the top spot and secure a semifinal berth.

The composure of Indonesia U19 ultimately made the difference. A penalty in the 90+1st minute was successfully converted by Evandra Florasta, sealing a 2-1 victory and allowing Indonesia U19 to finish the group stage with a perfect record.

According to the regulations of the 2026 ASEAN U19 Championship, the four semifinalists consist of three group winners and one best runner-up. Indonesia U19 has definitely advanced as the winner of Group A.

In the semifinals, Indonesia U19 could face the winner of Group C or the best runner-up from Group B. Therefore, Indonesia U19's opponent will only be determined after all group-stage matches conclude.

Australia U19 is currently the strongest candidate for the top spot in Group C. This team leads the standings after a 1-0 win over the Philippines and will face Cambodia in the decisive match for first place.

Meanwhile, the race in Group B remains a contest between Thailand and Malaysia, both of whom have 6 points.

Their direct clash in the final round will decide the semifinal landscape as well as the potential opponent for Indonesia U19.