The Indonesia U-17 National Team saw their AFF U-17 Cup 2026 journey come to an end after being held to a goalless draw by formidable rivals Vietnam. The decisive Group A encounter, played at the Gelora Delta Sidoarjo Stadium on Sunday, April 19, sealed the fate of the young ‘Garuda Muda’ squad.
This 0-0 stalemate meant the Indonesia U-17 team finished third in their group with just 4 points, falling short of a semifinal spot. Vietnam clinched the top spot with 7 points, while Malaysia secured the runner-up position with 6 points. Earlier in the tournament, Indonesia had recorded a dominant 4-0 victory over Timor Leste but suffered a narrow 0-1 defeat to Malaysia.
For this pivotal match, the Indonesia U-17 starting eleven featured: Abdillah Ishak, Mochamad Mierza Firjatullah, Farik Rizqi, Putu Ekayana Yoga Pratama, Girly Andrade Guevara, Dava Yunna Adi Putra, Fardan Farras Prawita, Peres Awkila Tjoe, Farrel Luckyta Widodo, Pandu Aryo Wicaksono, and Chico Jericho Yarangga.
Meanwhile, Vietnam countered with a strong lineup comprising: Xuan Hoa Ly, Huynh Dang Khoa Nguyen, Manh Cuong Nguyen, Hoang Viet Tran, Quy Vuong Dao, Minh Thuy Nguyen, Trong Dai Nhan Le, Ngoc Nguyen Luc Chu, Van Duong Nguyen, Ngoc Anh Hao Nguyen, and Sy Bach Le.
From the opening whistle, the Indonesia U-17 side appeared overwhelmed by Vietnam’s intensity. The Golden Stars immediately exerted relentless pressure, launching a series of attacks that severely restricted the ‘Garuda Muda’ players’ ability to respond or build momentum.
A particularly dangerous moment arose in the 5th minute when a well-executed pull-back pass inside the penalty box found a Vietnamese attacker, whose accurate shot forced Indonesia’s goalkeeper Abdillah Ishak into a spectacular, reflexive save.
Throughout the entire first half, Indonesia U-17 struggled to carve out any meaningful scoring opportunities. In stark contrast, Vietnam consistently threatened with attempts from various positions, both inside and outside the penalty area. Fortunately for Indonesia, Abdillah remained vigilant and agile between the posts, ensuring the score remained locked at 0-0 heading into halftime.
The second half brought little change to the dynamics of the game. While Indonesia U-17 occasionally found moments to launch an attack, these opportunities were frequently squandered due to misdirected passes or poor finishing in the final third, preventing them from truly testing the Vietnamese defense.
Despite their unwavering effort, with attempts stemming from both open play and set pieces, the ‘Garuda Muda’ found their chances either narrowly missing the target or comfortably collected by the alert Vietnamese goalkeeper. The young Indonesian squad fought hard but ultimately couldn’t break the deadlock.
Ultimately, the 0-0 scoreline held firm until the final whistle. This result officially confirmed the Indonesia U-17 National Team’s elimination from the AFF U-17 Cup 2026 group stage, marking a disappointing end to their tournament campaign.
Summary
The Indonesia U-17 National Team’s journey in the AFF U-17 Cup 2026 concluded after a goalless draw against Vietnam at the Gelora Delta Sidoarjo Stadium. This result saw Indonesia finish third in Group A with just 4 points, preventing them from advancing to the semifinals. Vietnam secured the top spot with 7 points, while Malaysia finished second with 6 points.
Throughout the match, the Indonesia U-17 squad struggled against Vietnam’s intense pressure and failed to create significant scoring chances. Goalkeeper Abdillah Ishak made several crucial saves to keep the score tied at 0-0. Despite their efforts, the young Garuda Muda could not find a breakthrough, leading to their elimination from the tournament.