Vietnam U17 captain speaks candidly after draw with Indonesia

Vietnam U17 defender Nguyen Huynh Dang Kha shares notable insights after advancing to the Southeast Asian U17 semifinals.

Vietnam U17 defender Nguyen Huynh Dang Kha asserts that unity is the key factor enabling Vietnam U17 to advance through the group stage of the Southeast Asian U17 2026 as Group A leader. After an impressive journey, the Vietnam U17 captain believes the cohesion among players has formed the team's greatest strength.

On April 19th evening, Vietnam U17 drew 0-0 with Indonesia U17 at Gelora Delta Stadium. Despite no goals, this result was sufficient for Coach Cristiano Roland and his team to qualify for the semifinals with 7 points after 3 matches. In the concurrent match, Malaysia U17 defeated Timor Leste 2-0, causing Indonesia to officially exit at the group stage.

Sharing after the match, Dang Kha stated this was not an easy contest as Indonesia U17 unexpectedly opted for tight defensive tactics instead of the anticipated attacking approach. The Vietnam U17 captain admitted the team faced difficulties penetrating the opponent's goal but maintained necessary composure.

“Today's match was truly challenging for the team, but we knew how to control the game,” Dang Kha shared. According to this defender, maintaining proactive play and mutual support helped Vietnam U17 overcome pressure and achieve the goal of advancing.

He also emphasized that unity is the most crucial element for the team's success. “We always stay connected, and the team's passion is to support each other. That makes the match easier and builds confidence for the whole team,” Dang Kha added regarding Vietnam U17's competitive spirit this season.

From the coaching perspective, Coach Cristiano Roland also admitted he was quite surprised by Indonesia's approach. The Brazilian coach stated Vietnam U17 prepared for a high-pressing opponent, but Indonesia actually proactively defended deep throughout both halves. Closing the group stage with a clean sheet record after 3 matches—having previously defeated Malaysia 4-0 and Timor Leste 10-0—Vietnam U17 will face reigning champion Australia U17 in the semifinal at 19:30 on April 22.

Vietnam U17 defender makes surprising remarks after draw with Indonesia

Schedule for the Southeast Asian U17 2026 semifinal matches