Vietnam U17 0-0 Malaysia U17: A historic opportunity

At 7:30 PM on April 24th, the Vietnam U17 team will face Malaysia in the final of the 2026 regional tournament.

Vietnam U17 starting lineup: Xuan Hoa; Dang Khoa, Manh Cuong, Anh Hao, Hoang Viet; Nguyen Luc, Quy Vuong, Minh Thuy, Sy Bach, Van Duong; Dai Nhan.

If Vietnam U17 defeats Malaysia tonight, they will officially make history as the most successful team in the Southeast Asian tournament (four titles), surpassing both Thailand and Australia. A victory would not only bring home the gold trophy but also be a strong affirmation of the dominance of Vietnamese youth football in the regional arena.

Despite suffering a crushing 0-4 defeat against Vietnam in the group stage, the Malaysian U17 team is entering the final with a completely different mindset. After that humiliating loss, coach Shukor Adan's team has undergone a spectacular transformation, successively defeating host Indonesia and Laos to advance straight to the final match. Malaysian media is hyping up the spirit of "revenge," while coach Shukor affirms that the young players' resilience has been forged through adversity and they are ready to create a surprise with their steely determination.

Malaysia's confidence is not unfounded. History shows that the "Little Tigers" have always been a formidable opponent for Vietnam in knockout rounds, having won both semi-final encounters in 2013 and 2019. Former coach Ong Kim Swee also urged the young players to play a dedicated, fearless game to defend their perfect record of winning every time they reach a final in youth football.

Vietnam U17 previously defeated Malaysia U17 4-0 in the group stage. Photo: VFF .

However, the Vietnam U17 team, under the guidance of coach Cristiano Roland, remains the strongest contender for the championship. With their devastating performance – scoring 16 goals and conceding only 1 in 4 matches – Vietnam has been recognized by the New Straits Times as having the best youth training system in Southeast Asia currently. The attacking quartet of Nguyen Luc, Van Duong, Sy Bach, and Manh Cuong are in superb form, ready to break through any defense.

Source: https://znews.vn/u17-viet-nam-0-0-u17-malaysia-thoi-co-lich-su-post1646069.html