U22 Vietnam entered the confrontation with U22 Malaysia with the only goal of winning to decide the ticket to the semi-finals of the 33rd SEA Games.
Both teams have 3 points, but U22 Malaysia is temporarily ranked higher thanks to a better goal difference (+3 compared to +1). This helps U22 Malaysia only need a draw to lead Group B and get a direct ticket. Meanwhile, U22 Vietnam must aim for victory to avoid falling into a dependent position. However, if the match ends in a draw, coach Kim Sang-sik and his team still have a chance to enter the semi-finals as the second-placed team with the best result, because the second-placed teams in groups A and C only have a maximum of 3 points.
In recent training sessions, U22 Vietnam has shown the possibility of personnel testing. Viktor Le continues to be a familiar choice, while Le Phat is being given many opportunities to show off. In Sunday's training session, coach Kim Sang Sik arranged for Le Phat to play on the left wing instead of the regular position of captain Khuat Van Khang. If this change is applied, it will be a tactically breakthrough decision.
On the other side of the front line, U22 Malaysia faced many changes. Striker Haqimi Rosli had to return to his hometown to mourn his father, while defensive midfielder Haziq Abba was out due to a hamstring injury. However, they also received good news when a series of key players including center back Ubaidullah, goalkeeper Mukhriz and midfielder Yuslan promptly gathered in Thailand, helping the team stabilize their forces before the decisive match.
