Vietnam U17 team "gets off to a good start..."

A narrow victory against Yemen U17 in the opening match of Group C at the 2026 AFC U17 Championship gives Vietnam U17 a significant advantage.

Well-executed passing sequences

In the early hours of May 7th, the Vietnam U17 team secured all three points with a 1-0 victory over Yemen U17. With South Korea U17 drawing 1-1 with UAE U17, the "Golden Star Warriors" are currently leading Group C.

In their opening match, coach Cristiano Roland's team displayed a balance between controlling the game and organizing their defense. The Vietnam U17 team started proactively, creating continuous pressure with well-coordinated plays.

Despite a lack of sharpness in finishing in the first half, the way the Vietnam U17 team patiently sought space reflected a clear improvement in the players' mentality. Notably, Dau Quang Hung's goal in the 77th minute secured Vietnam U17's first victory in a continental tournament since 2016.

However, the main concern at this point is the physical condition of the Vietnamese U17 players. While the West Asian representatives maintained a high pace thanks to their superior physique, the young Vietnamese players had less stamina. Striker Le Sy Bach and midfielder Nguyen Minh Thuy both showed signs of fatigue in the second half and had to leave the field. Without three crucial saves by goalkeeper Ly Xuan Hoa, the course of the match could have been reversed.

East Asian representatives drop points.

In the other match of Group C, South Korea U17 unexpectedly drew with UAE U17. Despite being considered the stronger team and having 70% possession, the East Asian representatives conceded an early goal due to a lapse in concentration in defense.

The South Korean team then launched a series of attacks but only found an equalizer in the 88th minute. UAE U17 goalkeeper Joshua Bentley had an impressive game, saving seven shots from South Korea U17, helping his team secure a point under intense pressure from their opponents. This also marks the second consecutive time the East Asian representative has dropped points in their opening match of a continental tournament.

U17 Việt Nam — Vietnam U17 (left) is leading Group C with 3 points after the first round of matches. (Photo: AFC)

This result makes the situation in Group C more unpredictable than initially predicted. Vietnam U17 temporarily leads with 3 points, while South Korea U17 and UAE U17 both have 1 point. Yemen U17 came away empty-handed but still showed they are a formidable opponent thanks to their physical strength and fierce competitive spirit.

In the next match (May 10th), Coach Cristiano Roland's team will face U17 South Korea. Although they didn't win in their opening match, the East Asian team still showed impressive ability to dominate the game, especially when they were trailing.

This will be a pivotal match for the "Golden Star Warriors" in their goal of qualifying for the U17 World Cup. If they can secure points against U17 South Korea, their chances of reaching the quarterfinals will be much greater.

Conversely, all the pressure will be on the final match against the UAE U17 team – an opponent with excellent physical fitness and many fast players.

The victory against Yemen shows that the Vietnam U17 team has reason to be optimistic. Under coach Cristiano Roland, the team possesses a clear playing style, with diverse attacking options, rather than relying on long balls. More importantly, securing all three points in the first match gives the young players a significant psychological advantage.