Indonesia U-17 Dominates Timor Leste in 4-0 Opener to Claim Group A Lead
The Indonesia U-17 national team launched their campaign in the 2026 ASEAN U-17 Boys Championship with a commanding statement, crushing Timor Leste 4-0 on Monday, April 13, 2026. The victory, secured at the Stadion Gelora Joko Samudro in Gresik, ensures that the “Garuda Muda” now sit at the top of Group A alongside Vietnam.
From the opening whistle, Indonesia maintained an aggressive posture, suffocating Timor Leste’s defense. The pressure paid off in the sixth minute when a cross from Akwila Tjoe Peres fell perfectly for Putu Ekayana, who slotted the ball into the bottom left corner to open the scoring. The captain continued his brilliance in the 18th minute, calmly finishing a precise pass from Dava Yunna to double the lead. In a poignant moment following the match, the Timnas U-17 captain dedicated his goals to his late grandparents.
The onslaught didn’t stop there. In the 38th minute, Ridho extended the lead to 3-0, reacting quickest to a rebound after his initial attempt was blocked by a Timor Leste defender. Just four minutes later, Dava Yunna capped off a dominant first half with a powerful volley from a corner kick, making it 4-0 by the 42nd minute. This sweet start for coach Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto sets a high benchmark for the rest of the tournament.
The opening match schedule saw Indonesia deploy a balanced lineup featuring Noah Leo Duvert in goal; a defensive line of Peres Akwila Tjoe, Putu Ekayana, Pandu Aryo, and Made Arbi Ananta; a midfield trio of Keanu Senjaya, Alfredo Naraya, and Fardan Farras; and an attacking front of Ridho, Mierza Firjatullah, and Dava Yunna.
Timor Leste started with Leverdinho; Gabriel Cardoso, Salsinha, Florindo Magno, Dominico Augusto; Germano Junior, Jeronimo Nono, Paulo Anderson, Elton Givanio; and Frengky and Jyzeus up front. Despite their efforts, they were unable to breach the Indonesian defense.
This comprehensive victory not only provides Indonesia with three crucial points but too instills significant confidence in the squad as they navigate the challenging group stages of the 2026 ASEAN U-17 Boys Championship.
