The Indonesian U-19 national team secured their place in the semifinals of the 2026 AFF U-19 Championship (ASEAN Boys Championship 2026) after a dramatic 2-1 victory over Vietnam in their final Group A match at the North Sumatra Main Stadium in Deli Serdang on Sunday (June 7th).
This victory propelled the Garuda Muda squad to the top of Group A with a perfect nine points from three matches. Vietnam, meanwhile, finished second with six points and is still awaiting a chance to qualify via the best runner-up route.
From the opening minutes of the match, Nova Arianto's squad immediately played aggressively. Indonesia took the initiative on offense and attempted to dominate the match through a combination of quick, short passes.
These efforts paid off in the 22nd minute. Reno Salampessy broke the deadlock after receiving a perfect pass from Arkhan Kaka. Reno calmly dribbled into the penalty box before unleashing a shot that beat the Vietnamese goalkeeper. The goal gave Indonesia a 1-0 lead.
Down with a goal, Vietnam increased their intensity. The team nicknamed the young Golden Star Warriors began to play more aggressively and threatened the Indonesian defense several times. However, the Garuda Muda maintained their 1-0 lead until halftime.
Entering the second half, Vietnam put on more pressure. In the 51st minute, Trong Duy Khang Hoang had a golden opportunity, but his finish was saved by Indonesian goalkeeper Dafa Al Gasemi.
Indonesia also had a chance to increase their lead in the 56th minute through Irfan, who received a through ball from Arkhan Kaka. Unfortunately, his shot sailed over the crossbar.
Vietnam's pressure finally paid off in the 73rd minute. Team captain Nguyen Quoc Khanh equalized the score at 1-1 with a powerful header from a corner kick.
This goal intensified the match, with both teams attacking each other to secure a crucial victory in the race for top spot in Group A.
Just as the match looked set to end in a draw, Indonesia was awarded a penalty in injury time. The referee pointed to the penalty spot after Vietnamese defender Van Khanh Nguyen fouled Theodore Evan Leeming in the penalty box.
Evandra Florasta stepped up to take the penalty perfectly in the 90+1 minute. Her penalty kick successfully beat the Vietnamese goal, giving Indonesia a 2-1 lead.
The score remained unchanged until the final whistle. This victory secured Indonesia's place in the semifinals as Group A winners.
After the match, the coach of the Indonesian U-19 national team, Nova Arianto, expressed his pride in his players' efforts, who demonstrated strong mental fortitude throughout.
"I'm grateful that all the players performed to their full potential. Mentally, they were very strong. Even when the score was tied, they continued to fight hard, and we're grateful to have won," said Nova.
Nova also emphasized that the coaching team would immediately evaluate and prepare for the semifinals. He hoped that Reno Salampessy's injury wasn't too serious, so he could return to the team for the next match.
"We'll see tomorrow who our opponent will be in the semifinals. Regarding Reno, I hope his injury isn't serious, and he can play in the semifinals," he added.
With this victory, Indonesia's hopes of winning the 2026 ASEAN Boys Championship remain strong. Public support for the Garuda Muda, who have continued to show positive progress throughout the tournament, has also grown.
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