Australia 'scored' all four goals, Vietnam bitterly eliminated from Southeast Asian tournament

The 2-2 draw between Australia U19 and Cambodia U19 in the final match of Group C at the 2026 Southeast Asian U19 Championship produced an incredible storyline, with every goal coming from Australian players. This outcome also meant Vietnam U19 were eliminated in the group stage.

Before kickoff, Vietnam U19 still had a chance to reach the semifinals as one of the best second-placed teams if Australia U19 defeated Cambodia U19. In fact, things went very smoothly for the Vietnamese representatives in the first half.

As early as the 3rd minute, Marcus Neill capitalized on a defensive error by Cambodia to open the scoring for Australia U19. In the 18th minute, Alexandro Nunes was in the right place to slot home the rebound, extending the lead to 2-0. With a two-goal advantage and complete control of the game, Australia U19 seemed to have victory firmly in their grasp.

For most of the first half, Cambodia could only defend against constant pressure from their opponents. The Cambodian goalkeeper had to make several saves to prevent further goals. The opening period ended with a significant advantage for the Australian side.

However, in the second half, the situation took an unexpected turn. Australia U19 could no longer maintain their dominance, while Cambodia played with great determination. In the 60th minute, Cambodia reduced the deficit to 1-2 with a shot from Sreng Sokea. Nevertheless, this shot actually deflected off an Australian defender's leg before going into the net.

The drama intensified in the 83rd minute. From a chaotic scramble in front of goal, an Australian U19 player awkwardly turned the ball into his own net, allowing Cambodia to equalize at 2-2. Thus, both of Cambodia's goals came from own goals by their opponents.

In the remaining minutes, Australia could not find another goal despite their efforts. The match ended with a surprising 2-2 draw. Notably, all four goals in the match were touched by Australian players: two scored against Cambodia and two own goals.

This result saw Australia U19 finish top of Group C. Meanwhile, Cambodia U19 advanced to the semifinals as the best second-placed team. The biggest losers were Vietnam U19, who were officially eliminated from the group stage despite having a great opportunity to progress. Closing the group stage of the 2026 Southeast Asian U19 Championship, the four semifinalists are Indonesia U19, Thailand U19, Australia U19, and Cambodia U19.