On the afternoon of August 17, the Vietnamese team returned to Hanoi after a guest trip to Malaysia, bringing the advantage before the second leg of the ASEAN Cup 2026 semi-final.
In Kuala Lumpur, coach Kim Sang-sik's team had to face a tight match from the home team. The Vietnamese team could only break the deadlock in injury time in the first half when Xuan Son flew to head impressively from Truong Tien Anh's cross.
In the second half, Quang Hai participated in the attacking situation leading to the second goal, when Faris accidentally put the ball into his own net in an effort to save.
The 2-0 result helps the Vietnamese team create a significant gap before the second leg. However, the coaching staff still requires the whole team to maintain concentration and prepare carefully for the second leg.
Coach Kim Sang-sik asked the players to continue to analyze the remaining problems after the match in Kuala Lumpur, especially in the ability to control the game and organize defense against the opponent's pressure.
After a journey of continuous travel and competition, physical recovery is prioritized on the first day the team returns to Vietnam. The players will have time to rest before entering the final training session.
According to the plan, in the afternoon of August 18, the Vietnamese team will train at My Dinh Stadium. This is an important training session for Mr. Kim Sang-sik to review personnel, complete tactical plans and prepare for Malaysia's ability to push up the squad right from the beginning of the match.
The second leg semi-final between Vietnam and Malaysia takes place at 8:00 PM on August 19th at My Dinh Stadium.
