Indonesian media bluntly stated one thing when U19 Vietnam were shockingly eliminated by Cambodia.

Indonesian outlets paid special attention to U19 Vietnam following the thrilling stalemate between Australia and Cambodia, which ultimately prevented the Vietnamese side from advancing to the knockout stage.

According to Indonesian reports, U19 Cambodia created a historic milestone at the 2026 ASEAN U19 Championship by securing a semifinal berth, while simultaneously ending U19 Vietnam's campaign in a regretful manner.

CNN Indonesia repeatedly used the phrase "Vietnam tersingkir" (Vietnam eliminated) in headlines after the draw between U19 Cambodia and U19 Australia. The outlet noted that Cambodia, with four points, surpassed both Vietnam and Malaysia in the race for a semifinal spot as the best runner-up.

Meanwhile, Bolasport emphasized that: "This is the first time in history that U19 Cambodia has reached the semifinals of the ASEAN U19 Championship. This achievement marks a significant step forward for the country's youth football in the region.

The above result also directly affected U19 Vietnam. Cambodia's advancement meant that Vietnam regrettably ended their title pursuit, despite having delivered notable performances in the group stage."

Right from the opening whistle, U19 Australia showed their dominance. Just two minutes in, Edwar Neil capitalized on a defensive error by Cambodia to score the opener. By the 17th minute, Diogo Nunez added another goal after a scramble in the box, giving the Australian side a 2-0 lead.

Trailing early, U19 Cambodia faced the risk of elimination from the group stage. However, the young team did not lose their fighting spirit. After the break, Cambodia pushed forward aggressively, increased pressure, and created a completely different dynamic from the first half.

Their relentless efforts finally paid off as Cambodia scored two quick goals to level the match. The 2-2 draw not only secured their progression but was also seen as a historic victory for Cambodian youth football.

In the semifinals, U19 Cambodia will face hosts U19 Indonesia. Indonesian media consider this a tough challenge, as the host nation has home advantage and a strong squad.

However, with their morale soaring after this historic achievement, Cambodia is expected to continue springing surprises and writing their own fairy tale in this year's tournament.