Indonesian media: 'Vietnam gets the outcome from its own dramas'

U19 Indonesia beat U19 Vietnam 2-1 to claim first place in Group A and advance to the semifinals of the 2026 ASEAN U19 Championship. Following the game, media from the archipelago stirred interest with statements directed at Vietnam's youth squad.

On the evening of June 7, U19 Indonesia defeated U19 Vietnam by a score of 2-1 in the final match of Group A at the 2026 ASEAN U19 Championship. This victory not only secured the host team's place in the semifinals as group winners but also excited the Indonesian media immensely.

Entering the decisive match, U19 Indonesia started confidently with the support of their home crowd. The young Indonesian side constantly applied heavy pressure on U19 Vietnam's half and were rewarded early with the opening goal by Nazriel Alvaro in the first half.

In the second half, U19 Vietnam showed their resilience by mounting a strong comeback. The efforts of coach Yutaka Ikeuchi's team paid off with an equalizer from Quoc Khanh, leveling the score. However, at a crucial moment, Indonesia made the most of their chances to score another goal, thereby closing the match with a 2-1 victory.

Immediately after the final whistle, many Indonesian media outlets and football communities celebrated in unison. One post that attracted significant attention read:

"INTO THE SEMIFINALS!!! Indonesia dramatically defeated Vietnam thanks to a late penalty. This result allows Garuda Muda to advance to the semifinals as group winners. And Vietnam has to face the consequences of its own dramas."

The phrase "its own dramas" is used by many Indonesian fans to refer to U19 Vietnam's attempts to slow down the tempo when the score was 1-1 (a result that would have sent U19 Vietnam through). Then, when Indonesia scored the decisive goal late in the match, Indonesian fans believed Vietnam had "paid the price" for that approach.

Nevertheless, the loss to Indonesia did not diminish the respect U19 Vietnam earned from regional fans. On various Southeast Asian football forums, many Thai supporters praised the fighting spirit of the red-shirted team.

Many comments noted that U19 Vietnam displayed grit, discipline, and determination until the very last minutes. If they continue to maintain those qualities in the future, the young Vietnamese team will remain a formidable opponent for any team in the region.