Vietnam U19 secures convincing victory, vying with Indonesia

Vietnam U19 got off to a smooth start in the 2026 Southeast Asian U19 Championship, beating Timor Leste U19 3-0 in the Group A opener on June 1 afternoon. Forward Hoàng Công Hậu was the standout player, netting a hat-trick to earn all three points for coach Yutaka Ikeuchi's team.

It took only 3 minutes for coach Ikeuchi's players to find the opening goal. From a clever through ball by Đức Vũ in midfield, Công Hậu sprinted through before calmly finishing past goalkeeper Oliveira, putting Vietnam U19 ahead 1-0.

The early goal boosted the red-clad team's morale. However, contrary to expectations of total dominance, Vietnam U19 then encountered considerable difficulties against the opponent's tight defensive play. Despite having superior possession, the young Vietnamese players could not create many clear-cut chances.

In the 19th minute, Công Hậu once again troubled the Timor Leste defense with a skillful move to beat a defender before going one-on-one with the goalkeeper. However, his shot was not precise enough to find the net. In the 35th minute, the number 9 striker had another regret when his effort hit the post.

On the other side, Timor Leste U19 showed they were no pushovers. In the 29th minute, they nearly caused an upset when Vabio set up Arago for a powerful long-range shot from over 25 meters. Fortunately for Vietnam U19, goalkeeper Hoa Xuân Tín made an excellent flying save.

In the second half, Vietnam U19 continued to control the game but struggled to get close to the opponent's goal. Timor Leste's defense played disciplined football with effective cover, often breaking up the red team's attacking combinations.

In the 55th minute, Đức Vũ had a chance with a shot from the edge of the box but could not beat the opponent's determined defense. Just when it seemed the deadlock would last until the end, Công Hậu's moment of brilliance created a turning point.

In the 83rd minute, from a precise cross by Quốc Khánh on the right wing, Công Hậu executed a beautiful bicycle kick volley, leaving goalkeeper Oliveira with no chance, making it 2-0. This goal completely relieved the pressure on Vietnam U19 and allowed them to play more freely in the final minutes.

In the 90+1 minute, Công Hậu completed his memorable performance by smartly beating the offside trap and then finishing neatly past the goalkeeper, sealing a 3-0 victory for Vietnam U19.

Timor Leste U19's efforts in stoppage time could not bring a consolation goal. In the 90+4 minute, Vabio Canavaro unleashed a powerful shot from a tight angle, but goalkeeper Hoa Xuân Tín again showed excellent reflexes to keep his net intact.

The 3-0 win gives Vietnam U19 a favorable start in Group A and boosts their confidence for the journey ahead. At 4:00 PM on June 4, Vietnam U19 will face Myanmar U19 in the next match.