The Malaysian team faces a very difficult problem when entering the second leg of the ASEAN Cup 2026 semi-finals. The 0-2 defeat to Vietnam in the first leg makes coach Tan Cheng Hoe's team need at least two goals at My Dinh if they want to return to balance.
Malaysia's difficulties also come from the force. Alif Haiiqal, Fazul Amir, Endrick and Rodney Celvin all had physical problems, in which Rodney had to leave the field from the 16th minute in the first leg. Wan Kuzain also could not participate due to returning to the US to play for the club.
However, Malaysia is not an easy opponent to subdue. In the first leg, they once had good ball control and created opportunities in front of Le Giang Patrik's goal. If they improve their finishing ability, Malaysia can completely put more pressure at My Dinh.
In a situation where they are forced to attack, the opponent is likely to proactively push up the squad from the beginning. The Vietnamese team can take advantage of these gaps by quickly changing positions.
With a two-goal advantage, coach Kim Sang-sik's team does not need to play recklessly. However, Vietnam needs to be especially vigilant in the early minutes. The sooner Malaysia scores, the greater the pressure on the home team. Conversely, if Vietnam keeps a clean sheet and forces the opponent to continue to push up, the opportunity to exploit space will increase.
The match between Vietnam and Malaysia takes place at 8:00 p.m. today (August 19), live on FPT Play.
Live stream link:
https://fptplay.vn/su-kien/viet-nam-malaysia-6a82c716df11795d3b4f82bc?event=event&type=highlight
