Indonesian media: 'Malaysia powerless as Vietnam claims championship'

Indonesian media unanimously praised Vietnam U17 after their dominant victory over Malaysia in the final, affirming their superior class and current top position in Southeast Asia.

Indonesian media, notably Superball, lavished praise on the dominant performance of Vietnam U17 following their decisive win over Malaysia U17 in the ASEAN Cup U17 2026 final.

According to Superball, this outcome was not entirely unexpected as Vietnam U17 continued to demonstrate superiority over their opponent, similar to their 4-0 victory over Malaysia in the group stage. Despite hopes for a surprise in the rematch, Malaysia U17 still could not withstand the strength of the red-shirted team.

From the opening minutes, Vietnam U17 surged forward in attack and completely controlled the match. After several missed opportunities, they soon scored the opening goal in the 11th minute thanks to Dao Quy Vuong from a set-piece situation. The goal allowed Vietnam to play more proactively and control the pace of the game.

Before the first half concluded, Nguyen Van Duong doubled the lead after a sharp combination play, allowing Vietnam U17 to enter the break with a significant advantage. Superball noted this was the moment Malaysia began losing control of the match and struggled to organize counterattacks.

In the second half, the match situation did not change much as Vietnam U17 maintained their dominance. In the 55th minute, Nguyen Van Duong completed his brace, raising the score to 3-0 after a VAR-confirmed situation. This also marked the end of any hope for Malaysia.

Indonesian media reported that Malaysia U17 was almost powerless in deploying their play, even losing composure and committing frequent fouls against Vietnam's controlling style. Despite goalkeeper Adam making several impressive saves, he could not salvage the situation.

Closing the match with a 3-0 victory, Vietnam U17 officially crowned as champions of the ASEAN Cup U17 2026. Superball assessed this as a fully deserved title, simultaneously affirming the current top regional status of Vietnam's youth football.