Australian press admitted surprise at the 1-2 comeback loss of their team against Vietnam U17.
Vietnam U17 created an impressive comeback by defeating reigning champion Australia U17 2-1 in the semifinal on April 22. This victory secured Coach Cristiano Roland's team a spot in the final of the 2026 Southeast Asian U17 Championship after a courageous performance.
Football 360 wrote: "Australia U17 was shockingly eliminated by Vietnam U17, this result is too surprising. Australia had an early advantage from the opening goal in the 9th minute, but Vietnam U17 surged strongly afterward. Particularly, Vietnam U17's goal to make it 2-1 was truly a classy combination play."
With soaring form and a determined competitive spirit, Vietnam U17 now faces a major opportunity to claim the championship title. If they achieve this goal, Coach Roland's squad will enter history as the team with the most Southeast Asian U17 Championship titles, totaling four crowns.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Coach Cristiano Roland expressed great joy at his players' victory. He affirmed this result came from the coaching staff's thorough preparation and the team's confident, fully engaged spirit, even though Vietnam U17 conceded an early goal from Australia.
According to the Brazilian strategist, calmness and the ability to maintain a patient playing style were the decisive factors that helped the team reverse the situation. He emphasized that against a strong opponent like Australia, maintaining focus, perseverance, and belief in the tactics became the key for Vietnam U17 to create this memorable victory.
After 90 minutes of play, Vietnam U17 won 2-1 overall and secured their place in the tournament's final match. Their opponent in the final will be Malaysia U17, which overcame Laos U17 3-0 in the other semifinal. Notably, in the group stage, Vietnam U17 had previously defeated Malaysia 4-0, giving them added confidence ahead of the rematch.
Brazilian coach directly pointed out the reason Vietnam's team defeated Australia
After defeating Australia, the Brazilian coach entered history alongside Vietnam's team