Pre-match images
Pre-match information
The Vietnamese team entered the ASEAN Cup 2026 semi-finals with many advantages in form, force and scoring ability. However, the first leg in Kuala Lumpur still requires coach Kim Sang-sik's team to maintain focus.
In the group stage, the Vietnamese team topped Group A with 10 points, scoring 13 goals and conceding only 1 goal. This is the foundation for the defending champion to aim for a positive result right on the away field.
The problem lies in the ability to take advantage of opportunities. Since the beginning of the tournament, Vietnam has taken 74 shots from the beginning of the tournament, but only 24 shots were on target and the conversion rate of chances to goals reached 57.6%. If the final stage is improved, Vietnam's attack can put significant pressure on Malaysia.
In the opposite direction, Malaysia does not have the best force. The penalty related to 7 naturalized players caused this team to lose many important personnel. The situation became even more difficult when some players had physical problems.
Notably, Wan Kuzain - one of Malaysia's outstanding players in the group stage - had to return to the US to join the club.
Pavithran Gunalan and Sergio Aguero are expected to take on a larger role. However, Malaysia still has to face a Vietnamese team with better personnel depth.
