In the last match of Group B held on the afternoon of April 18, U17 Laos defeated U17 Thailand with a score of 3-2 after an impressive comeback. This result helped the young team from the Land of the Million Elephants finish the group stage with 7 points after 3 matches (2 wins, 1 draw), thereby winning the right to enter the semi-finals with the leading position in Group B.
Meanwhile, U17 Myanmar unexpectedly lost to U17 Philippines with a score of 1-2 in the match at the same time. The defeat caused U17 Myanmar to close the group stage with 4 points and could not compete for the top spot in the group. This team is also not in the group second in the group with the best results to win a ticket to the next round.
U17 Thailand, although once highly rated in the group, only got 3 points after 3 matches. The decisive defeat against U17 Laos caused this team to drop to third place and have to say goodbye to the tournament early.
Meanwhile, the victory over U17 Myanmar helped U17 Philippines have the same 3 points as U17 Thailand, but still ranked last in the group due to inferior goal difference.
Thus, closing Group B, U17 Laos is the only team to win a ticket to the semi-finals with the top spot in the group. According to the tournament format, the top three teams and the second-placed team with the best results will participate in the semi-finals.
In the next round, U17 Laos will face one of the two second-placed teams with better results between Group A or Group C.
The victory over U17 Thailand not only helped U17 Laos affirm their position in Group B but also created one of the most notable results in the group stage of this year's U17 Southeast Asian Championship.
