Entering the 2026 U23 Asian qualifiers with high expectations, U23 Indonesia has the home field advantage and possesses a strong force, including many faces that have just entered the U23 Southeast Asian finals.
Coach Donald Vanenburg's team is considered capable of competing for the top spot in Group J, where there are also U23 Korea and U23 Macau (China). However, the draw against U23 Laos made this goal questioned.
From the first minutes, the home team created great pressure. In the 6th minute, Rayan Hannan put the ball into the net but the goal was disallowed due to Jens Raven offside. The Dutch striker Raven, who has scored many goals for the Indonesian youth teams, continues to play enthusiastically but cannot make a difference.
In the first half, the opportunities came to Toni Firmansyah and Rafael Struick, but were both discovered by goalkeeper Kop Lokphathip and the Lao U23 defense. In the second half, U23 Indonesia maintained an attacking position, but the opponent's solidity and rolling made them helpless in scoring. Lokphathip became a bright spot for U23 Laos with many decisive saves.
The goalless draw put U23 Indonesia at a big disadvantage. In the next round, they will face U23 Korea - the team that just beat U23 Macau (China) 5-0. Meanwhile, U23 Laos got a valuable point against the strong candidate of the group.
In another development in Group A, U23 Thailand started well, beating U23 Mongolia 6-0. Striker Seksan Ratree scored a hat-trick, while Iklas Sanron, Chawanwit Saelao and Yotsakorn Burapha also scored.
