Jakarta. Indonesia’s under-23 national football team secured a place in the semifinals of the 2025 AFF U-23 Championship after holding Malaysia to a 0-0 draw at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta on Monday.

The result was enough for Indonesia to top Group A with seven points, following earlier victories against Brunei and the Philippines. Malaysia, despite a 2-0 win over Brunei on the same day, finished third in the group and failed to advance.

The match was marked by a physical battle, with the referee issuing seven yellow card --four to Indonesian players and three to Malaysians-- as both teams fought for control.

The Young Garudas dominated possession throughout the match, pressing high and launching continuous attacks in search of a breakthrough, while Malaysia, needing a win to progress, opted for a defensive approach and looked for opportunities on the counter.

Several moments of drama unfolded as Malaysian players frequently went to ground, drawing fouls and slowing down Indonesia’s tempo. Despite these disruptions, Indonesia maintained 70 percent ball possession during the first half, reflecting their control over the game.

Under the tournament’s format, only the group winners and the best runner-up advance to the semifinals, making a draw sufficient for Indonesia to progress while Malaysia fell short.

Indonesia will face the semifinal match later this week, seeking to continue their unbeaten run in the tournament as they chase the AFF U-23 title on home soil.

Here are the starting lineups:

Indonesia U-23: Cahya Supriadi (GK), Kadek Arel Priyatna, Kakang Rudianto, Dony Tri Pamungkas, Robi Darwis, Toni Firmansyah, M. Rayhan Hannan, Rahmat Arjuna Reski, M. Alfharezi Buffon, Victor Benjamin Dethan, Jens Raven.

Malaysia U-23: Sharani (GK), Shamsul Fazili, M. Arshad, Azim Bin Rosli, Abu Khalil, Norhisham, Mohd Haizon, Yuslan, Mohd Shapri, Fergus Tierney, M. Nabil.

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