At the Gelora Delta Stadium in Indonesia on the evening of April 22nd, the Vietnam U17 team created a major surprise at the 2026 Southeast Asian U17 Championship by defeating the defending champions Australia U17 2-1, securing a place in the final where they will face Malaysia U17 again.

For many, the spectacular comeback of the Vietnam U17 team was considered a seismic event, but in reality, coach Cristiano Roland 's team played a fair game and won based on their own strength, not luck.

Despite falling behind, the young Vietnamese players did not lose their composure; on the contrary, they played tenaciously, exploited their opponent's weaknesses, and above all, executed their game plan effectively, taking advantage of opportunities to score the decisive goal and secure a well-deserved victory.

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Vietnam U17 brilliantly defeated defending champions Australia U17. Photo: VFF

For a team of such young players, the performance of the Vietnam U17 team was impressive, showcasing maturity and a well-structured style of play. The fact that coach Cristiano Roland's team reached the final is the result of meticulous preparation, not only for this tournament but also over the past two years.

As you may recall, in the press conference before the 2026 Southeast Asian U17 Championship, coach Cristiano Roland emphasized that the Vietnam U17 team is aiming for higher goals, specifically the U17 Asian Championship finals in May. This is the tournament where the Vietnamese boys have set their sights on doing everything possible to win a historic ticket to the 2026 World Cup.